2016 Beauséjour (Duffau), St-Emilion (375ml)

“Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those 'iron fist in a velvet glove' wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!” (02/2019)

“The 2016 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse has come together beautifully since I last tasted it. Nearly seamless in the glass, the 2016 is rich, unctuous and potent, with all of its elements in the right place. Nothing really sticks out. Instead, I am simply blown away by the wine's intensity, explosive power and overall pedigree. Time in the glass brings out hints of graphite, smoke, cured meats, licorice and dark spices, but it is the wine's balance that is most impressive today. In 2016, Nicolas Thienpont and his team crafted a Beauséjour of mind-boggling intensity and purity. Tasted three times. (AG)” (01/2019)

“The aromas of mushrooms, tobacco, vine bark, stones and black fruit. It changes so quickly and then comes back. Full-bodied and remarkably balanced, concentrated and structured. Such precision and beauty.” (01/2019)

“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) slips seductively out of the glass with perfumed scents of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, lavender and baked plums with nuances of redcurrants, forest floor, mossy bark and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of grace and finesse with a super fine-grained frame and lovely freshness lifting the intense, perfumed fruits to a very long, mineral-tinged finished. Gorgeous. (LPB)” (11/2018)

“Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse is the ninth generation at this estate, in the family since 1847. In 2021, when 30 other family shareholders wanted to sell, she joined forces with Prisca Courtin-Clarins to buy them out. The two have jointly run it since. In 2016, Nicolas Thienpont managed the property, supported by consultant winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt. The blend was 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged in 55% new oak. Georgie Hindle: Gorgeous smooth texture. Tannins slightly grippy and firm for a crushed velvet but also chalky sensation. Soft liquorice, dark fruit purity. Layered and ultra-charming. What a wine. Vincenzo Arnese: Elegant nose, developed aromas of candied blue fruit. Rich, intense, great structure, persistent and elegant. Arthur Coggill: The nose has such strong pungent plum, it almost smells tropical. The palate features oodles of chewy cherry juice, backed by very firm tannins. (GH)” (03/2023)

“While this wine offers superripe fruit, it also has the freshness that comes from the vintage. It is both opulent and juicy with spice and a smoky character from the judicious wood aging. Drink this generous wine from 2025. *Editors' Choice* (RV)” (05/2019)

“Dark and winey in feel, with lots of coiled-up macerated dark currant, fig paste and blackberry compote flavors laced with smoldering tobacco and alder notes, all backed by a chalky persistence through the finish. A touch austere now, but with serious length, so tuck this one away in the cellar. (JM)” (03/2019)