2016 Sansonnet

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Sansonnet (composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a little youthfully mute, revealing suggestions of crushed black plums, baked cherries and blackberries with nuances of fallen leaves, black olives, lavender and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energy, giving mouth-coating red and black fruits with a firm, grainy frame, finishing long and lively. LPB

The 2016 Sansonnet has a pure bouquet of small dark cherries, fig and blueberry, beautifully defined and seamlessly integrated with the new oak. The medium-bodied palate is smooth and sensual, offering supple tannin and layers of slightly toasted black fruit, plus a bit of white pepper toward the persistent finish. This should mature with panache in bottle. 14.5% alcohol

The blueberry and blackberry aromas are very impressive and lifted right out of the glass. Full-bodied, very tight and defined with beautiful berries and focus. Long and vivid. Traditional style with precision and verve. Drink in 2022.

An exotic, heady wine, the 2016 Sansonnet is a total stunner. Crème de cassis, lavender, bittersweet chocolate, menthol, licorice, graphite and sweet spice saturate the palate in an explosive, stunningly beautiful Saint-Émilion that balances concentration and vibrancy with impeccable class. Put simply, the 2016 Sansonnet is a total pleasure bomb. Don't miss it. Tasted three times.

An estate that has been firing on all cylinders recently, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Sansonnet sports a saturated ruby color as well as a beautiful bouquet of macerated black cherries, blackcurrants, smoked earth, spice, and tobacco. This ripe, sexy, full-bodied beauty has terrific overall balance, a layered texture, no hard edges, and a beautiful finish. It's a gem in the vintage and is well worth a case purchase. The blend is 90% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, all brought up in 80% new French oak. Don’t miss this brilliant wine. - jebdunnuck.com, February 2019

A clay-over-limestone estate, owned by Marie Lefévère, which has produced a wine with excellent balance of flavour, freshness and power in 2016. The enjoyable dark fruits, bitter chocolate, clean lines and generosity are not overdone - it's intense without a doubt, but has settled down during barrel ageing in 80% new oak. It was bottled this July. 32hl/ha yield. - decanter.com, Jane Anson, October 2018