Amiral de Beychevelle 2016 (750ML)

90 Points, Lisa Perrotti Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Amiral de Beychevelle offers up compelling red and black cherry scents with a core of blackcurrants and blackberries plus wafts of lavender, wild sage and cumin seed. Medium-bodied with a firm, chewy frame, it has lovely freshness and purity, finishing on a mineral note." 3/19

90-92 Points, Neal Martin: "The 2016 Amiral de Beychevelle is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc and matured in 20% new oak barrels. It has a very pure bouquet, quite floral and Margaux-like in style, with cassis and blueberry intermixed with violet emerging with time. The palate is silky smooth with very fine tannin, well judged acidity, very harmonious and perhaps one of the most sensual Deuxième Vin that I have tasted. There are many outstanding second labels on the Left Bank in 2016. This is definitely one of them." 4/17

90 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "This vintage sings, with a lovely juicy quality to the cassis fruits. It has layers, walls and complexity; this is a good quality wine that needs a few years. Less Cabernet Franc was selected for the grand vin in this vintage - there was simply less of this varietal overall following regrafting to Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyard. Consequently this Amiral has benefitted from the Cabernet Franc's aromatics qualities and the freshness that it brings to the blend." 7/18