The 2016 Beaumont, owned by Suntory and Castel, has a rather conservative bouquet, a little backward and surly compared to its peers with undergrowth aromas coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, quite lithe and agile in the mouth, a wine willing to go out and please and not worry too much about cellaring. Whilst it does not quite have the complexity of the 2015, it is still a mouthful of potentially delicious wine.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Lovely plumpness to the black fruit, with a stewed element giving richness, but nothing overcooked. Something either reductive or bretty is giving an animalistic note to the palate, but it isn't intrusive. Seems to have a bit of rasp to the finish, slightly unsettling the balance. (RH)

Deep crimson. Charry oak over black fruit. Dusty finesse to the fine tannins. Fresh but a little drying on the finish. (JH)