2016 Chateau Charmail Red Bordeaux Blend

2016 Chateau Charmail

94 DEC

From the critics:

91-92 JS

92 JD

91+ RP

91 VM

90 WE

Featured Review

Tons of personality and concentration, delivering on 2016 expectations. Cassis, chocolate, slate, clear oak toasting well handled. One that shows the value at this level of cru bourgeois. The Petit Ve ...Read More

Decanter | 94 DEC

From a 28.5-hectare vineyard overlooking the Gironde River on the northern side of Saint-Estephe, the 2016 Château Charmail is one of those hidden gems in the vintage that should be snatched up by readers. It’s a medium to full-bodied, elegant, classic wine that offers lots of darker fruits (cassis and blackberry), spice, new saddle leather, and leafy herbs as well as a kiss of damp earth. It has terrific balance and is going to keep for 15-20 years. The blend is 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, all brought up in one-third new French oak. A total of 80% of the production went into the grand vin.

Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

Blueberry and blackberry character with hints of stones and minerals. Medium to full body and firm and silky tannins. Wonderful tannin quality here.

James Suckling | 91-92 JS

The 2016 Charmail is blended of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot aged for 12 months in roughly one-third each new, one-year-old and two-year-old French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple in color, it delivers intense scents of crème de cassis, cedar chest and pencil lead with touches of yeast extract and menthol. Medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of chewy tannins and plenty of mint-laced fruit, it finishes just a little woody at this youthful stage but should dial that in beautifully with another year or two in bottle.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91+ RP

The 2016 Charmail has turned out beautifully. Dark cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, leather, tobacco and spice give the 2016 notable richness and density. Powerful and very ripe in style, the 2016 has so much to offer. The 2016 is a big wine with tons of character and sheer personality.

Vinous Media | 91 VM

Just north of Saint-Estèphe, this vineyard surrounds a turreted chateau. With a high percentage of Merlot in the blend, this wine has a spicy, juicy character that is given necessary freshness by acidity and crisp black-currant flavors. Drink from 2022.

Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordea... Read More
Varietal	Red Bordeaux Blend : The inhabitants of the Bordeaux region of France have been cultivating wine-grapes for thousands of years. Ancient Roman ruins litter the vineyards from Saint Emilion to Graves where the art of blending Bordeaux varietals has been practiced and perfected over a very long history. Bordeaux’s clim... Read More
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a... Read More
Region	Bordeaux : Even among the greatest and most reputable wine regions on the planet, Bordeaux stands above the rest. The winemakers of this region have a single-minded dedication to the fine art of viticulture and their efforts never fail to show. If you consider yourself a fine wine enthusiast, you owe it to y... Read More
Subregion	Left Bank
Appellation	Haut Medoc