The Bordeaux 2016 Collection

Moulis is an often-overlooked appellation tucked just behind more famous areas of the left bank and is an area that thrives in warm vintages such as 2016. The wines of Chasse-Spleen show tertiary aromas and flavours of crushed rose petals, cigar smoke, and graphite from an early age, but they hold extremely well too.

With a lovely fragrant bouquet and polished fruit texture on the palate this Bordeaux is almost Margaux-like in its purity. A velvety claret from the top-notch 2016 vintage. Lying to the north of the hamlet of Avensan, to the south of Moulis and Listrac and to the west of Margaux, Citran is a large property with 90 hectares under vine. It is planted 58% cab sauv 42% merlot on gravel and clayey graveland limestone. Japanese owners invested considerably in cellar and vineyard from 1987 and current owner( since 1996) the Merlaut Villars family are making the most of the benefits.

This deservedly popular property used a high proportion of perfectly ripe cabernet sauvignon (85%) this year – often a clear sign of a great vintage in Bordeaux’s most lauded appellation. Lovely texture with fine-grained tannins and a polished sweetness on the palate. A delicious Batailley with a long and promising future.

Possibly the best Branaire we have tasted and one with a long future. A wine that can taste rather muscular when young, but the 2016 is remarkably approachable, with sleek, stylish tannins, crunchy stone-fruit character and a persistent, generous finish.

A harmoniously balanced, fresh and well-structured blend of 53% cabernet sauvignon, 44% merlot and 3% petit verdot from the top-notch 2016 vintage. This is the best vintage of Cos Labory that we have tasted, and it will not disappoint those who enjoy savoury, structured left bank clarets. The property, which has vineyards adjoining top Saint-Estèphe Cos d`Estournel, has recently been bought by its illustrious neighbour, so expect the price to go up!

Neighbouring Saint-Estèphe in the northern Haut-Médoc, Château Coufran has built a reputation for age-worthy clarets at modest prices. Comprising a single 76-hectare block predominantly planted to merlot the 2016 is a fleshy medium-bodied claret showing a sweet core of redcurrant and berry fruit with fine tannins and refreshing finish. Delicious now but will continue to evolve.