Chateau Cote de Baleau 2016
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Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
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Spectator
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has good intensity with dark berry and plum aromas, as well as alluringly spicy oak influence. There’s a dense and juicy core of very attractive, concentrated red plums and berries, framed in well-judged tannins. Try from 2022.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Made with consulting advice from Michel Rolland’s team, the 2016 Château Cote de Baleau is a plump, sexy, fruit-loaded beauty that gives up tons of ripe black fruits, charred meat, and earthy, herbal aromas and flavors. Textured, upfront, and ready to go, drink it any time over the coming decade or so.
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Decanter
Owned by Mathieu Cuvelier since 2013, this has rich, silky bilberry fruits and tight tannins. It's a little high in acidity but this places focus on the salinity that's evident on the finish. Clear potential.
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Wine Spectator
This has a fun, juicy feel, with waves of plum sauce, raspberry puree and cherry preserves running through, while singed vanilla and red licorice notes wrap up the finish. It's a fruit-friendly style but has enough grip to stay honest. Best from 2021 through 2031.
Other Vintages
2022-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Vinous
- Decanter
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Decanter
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Parker
Robert
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
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Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.