born under a lucky star

2016 is one of a series of recent outstanding vintages including 2000, 2009, 2010, and 2015. However, the weather during the start of the growing season did not give us much hope for a great vintage. Mother Nature nevertheless showed her amazing ability to turn things around. The weather in 2016 was decidedly atypical, with record rainfall from January to June, followed by as long period of Mediterranean-type weather (very hot and sunny).     016 has all the characteristics of a great year: even flowering with good fertilisation, a water deficit with abundant sunshine in summer, homogeneous véraison (colour change), dryness tempered by cool night-time temperatures, and a magnificent Indian summer. Despite some very hot summer days, 2016 cannot be compared with 2003, the year of the heat wave. Alternating chilly nights and sunny days, as well as the presence of « cool » soils, were decided advantages. Ségur de Cabanac’s clay-limestone terroir was able to cope perfectly with the lack of water. In fact, the vines benefited from the drought conditions, which contributed to the power and elegance of the 2016 vintage. The harvest was late, long, and unperturbed.

Tasting notes: (from barrel – April 2017)

Beautiful intense colour
Attractive nose of fully ripe black fruit.
These aromatics carry over to the palate, which is smooth and rich with a powerful tannic structure. A great wine displaying power, balance, and finesse