Le Prieure 2016 (750ML)

95+ Points, Zachys Buying Team: "Tasted five times. This is one of those rising star values of Saint Emilion that gets us excited about drinking Bordeaux with its approachability on the palate and in the wallet - best of it will age as well. One pull of the cork and the aromatics alone are worth the price of admission - it is simply intoxicating and transporting. There are explosive notes of blackberries, black currants, macerated black cherries, black licorice, and violets. There is concentration, but the wine has precision and is light on its feet. There is an awesome inner perfume to the wine that echoes across the palate. And yes, there is awesome purity of dark fruit with finesse here, but it is the nuances of minerality that hints at what is to become; there are already baked earth and truffles that linger in the background destined to become more pronounced with age. It is a crowd pleaser now and will be difficult to not to drink early. Cheers to Le Prieuré, Château Latour, and consulting winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet (formerly of Petrus), for this remarkable achievement. his is a 2016 to buy by the case(s) and enjoy over the next twelve years."

98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "One of the unquestioned Sleeper jewels of the year, the 2016 Le Prieuré is off the charts beautiful. Silky and impossibly refined, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total precision. Today, the 2016 is a bit more restrained than it was from barrel, when it was a more overt wine. That is not a bad thing, though, as I suspect the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Dark, beautifully perfumed and gracious, Le Prieuré represents the height of finesse in Saint-Émilion. Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for the Artemis Group, which is now the sole owner of Le Prieuré. The 2016 is a fabulous wine by any measure. Don't miss it." 01/19

94 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "Paul Goldschmidt and Artemis (Latour) work together on this wine, with Penelope Godfroy as technical director. It has always had excellent potential that is now being realised. Soft, plush fruit and a lovely touch of austerity from the limestone, restrained but with evident power underneath. The tannins are plush and this is an expertly judged, juicy and vibrant wine in the St-Émilion signature." 04/17