The first impression is that this is so focused, pure, and polished. Lovely aromas of blueberry compote and cassis lead to a palate that is full of juicy black and blue fruits, a remarkable textural refinement, and seamless, lightweight tannins. It is clean and fresh from start to finish. It will be fascinating to see how this ages. We've been a fan of this property for a long time at K&L, and even though we've adored some of the past vintages on release (and with some age), it is even more exciting to see how the style has evolved to a more detailed and nuanced take on these recent vintages.

Ever since I started here, I remember us almost always having some vintage of Barde-Haut around. It's classic as bacon and eggs, and always seems to be something I enjoy. No exceptions here. Definitely the 2016s are a bit lighter and higher acid, but that's definitely meaning that I enjoy this maybe a little more. This is getting some nice dark olive notes, mushrooms at the edges and then fruit in the middle, darker fruits with a little crunchy bright on the edges. The tannins are really well integrated on the palate, a little bit finer and softer, but I still want this with something to eat, I could see this with a nice mid-lean steak and healthy potato.

Not to be outdone, the 2016 Barde-Haut St-Emilion is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, reflecting the power and finesse of the clay-rich over limestone soils of the lustrous St-Emilion plateau. Opulent, richly-textured and complex, as the finest wines of the vintage have proven to be, this possesses an abundance of pure fruits, cassis and violets, bolstered by ripe, velvety tannins and a cruising finish of lovely acidity. Pair with grilled, herb-crusted ribeyes for a truly memorable meal.