Chateau La Tour Carnet 2016

La Tour Carnet was awarded the honor of Fourth Growth in the 1855 Classification, but time and phylloxera would not be kind to the estate. When Louis Lipschitz took control of La Tour Carnet in 1962, it had fallen deeply into disrepair. He set about replanting abandoned plots, restoring the chateau and renovating the viticultural buildings. He thus preceded the general move to rehabilitating vineyards by 10 years. From 1978, his daughter Marie-Claire Pelegrin continued his work with the same application. As she quite beautifully said: "My father left me a diamond he had not finished cutting." The vineyard was reconstituted and its area increased to 45 hectares, while the outbuildings were rehabilitated, enlarged and modernized. Her creative husband, Guy François, invented a rotating sorting table and a high-clearance tractor with tracks, the prototypes of which are conserved at the chateau. Hence the estate regained the splendor of its 1855 classification.

Now owned by Bernard Magrez, the estate continues to improve. The intent now is to not only raise La Tour Carnet, covering 126 hectares with 48 hectares of vines, to the level of excellence enjoyed in the glory days of its eight-century history, but also to ennoble one of the most original terroirs of Médoc using the latest cutting-edge knowledge and techniques. It is Magrez' aim to finally cut the diamond.

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Wine Spectator: 90
Juicy, offering a mix of dark currant and blackberry fruit flavors inlaid with hints of ganache, tobacco and licorice root. A nice grippy feel shows through the fruit while the fruit keeps pace. Drink now through 2029. 50,000 cases made.

Wine Advocate: 91
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 la Tour Carnet has an earthy nose with tobacco and underbrush over a core of warm plums, kirsch and tea. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing, elegant, juicy and soft with a savory finish.

Decanter: 93
This has a deep rich ruby colour with powerful dark fruit aromatics. It's smooth, rich and extremely good quality, with an oak smokiness evident but well integrated. It feels at the very beginning of its life, with everything in place but a little overly tight on the finish, although lovely menthol notes come through. The fruit is optically sorted, and following fermentation is aged in 30% new oak. Michel Rolland consults. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.

Decanter: 93

This has a deep rich ruby colour with powerful dark fruit aromatics. It's smooth, rich and extremely good quality, with an oak smokiness evident but well integrated. It feels at the very beginning of its life, with everything in place but a little overly tight on the finish, although lovely menthol notes come through. The fruit is optically sorted, and following fermentation is aged in 30% new oak. Michel Rolland consults. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.

Wine Enthusiast: 94
This is a rich wine, packed with tannins that contrast the fresh acidity and black currant fruit. It's a solid wine that's constructed to age.

James Suckling: 93
For a Haut-Médoc, this has an impressive depth of blackberry and blueberry character, together with a fine vanilla-oak note that beautifully complements the supple and finely nuanced, medium body. I love the crisp and delicately herbal, dry finish. A blend of 62 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet sauvignon, two per cent petit verdot and one per cent cabernet franc. Better from 2020.

Jeb Dunnuck: 90
From a terrific estate that always delivers the goods, and usually for a great price, the 2016 Château La Tour Carnet has good ripeness and exhibits ample black and blue fruits, hints of violets and flowers, medium-bodied richness, and outstanding balance. It shows the vintage beautifully and will keep for 10-15 years or so.