Château Le Gay 2016

Tasting Characteristics and Tips for Château Le Gay 2016

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a medium to deep garnet-purple hue, revealing fine concentration.

Nose

The nose stands out for its remarkable intensity and complexity. It reveals aromas of Black Forest, fresh blackcurrant, and lilac, alongside nuances of yeast extract, wood smoke, iron ore, and dark chocolate. Notes of black cherry, raspberry, and black truffle enrich the aromatic palette, while hints of vanilla, coconut, and licorice add an extra dimension.

Palate

The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with a velvety, flavorful texture. Generous dark and red fruit shows with intensity, supported by superfine, perfectly ripe tannins. The balance is outstanding, with 14.5% alcohol bringing warmth without heaviness. The very long, seductive finish lingers elegantly with fragrant notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Pomerol is an ideal match for grilled or roasted red meats, especially beef and ribeye. It also pairs perfectly with game such as venison, duck with fruit, as well as roast lamb. Mushroom-based dishes, particularly those featuring truffle, create harmonious pairings with this wine. Aged hard cheeses are also an excellent choice.

Serving and cellaring

Château Le Gay 2016 benefits from being decanted two to three hours before serving to allow the aromas to fully unfold. The ideal serving temperature is 15.5°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve favorably until around 2056, with an optimal drinking window beginning around 2026.

Other characteristics

This vintage earned prestigious scores from international critics: 98 points from James Suckling, 95+ points from Lisa Perrotti-Brown for The Wine Advocate, and 94 points from James Molesworth for Wine Spectator. Production totals around 20,000 bottles.

A powerful, refined Pomerol from the Bordeaux plateau

The estate

Established in the 18th century on the prestigious Pomerol plateau in Bordeaux, Château Le Gay spans 12 hectares of clay-gravel soils, in the immediate vicinity of Petrus and Lafleur. Owned by the Parent family since 2013, the estate is run by Henri Parent, with Florian Pesquier as winemaker and consultants Michel Rolland and Mikaël Laizet. The vineyard, planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, stands out for parcel-by-parcel vinification entirely in barrel and aging in new barrels.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Le Gay occupies a prime location on the Pomerol plateau, benefiting from clay-gravel soils that are particularly well suited to expressing Merlot. The vines boast a remarkable average age of around 50 years, with some having survived the devastating 1956 frost. Vineyard management favors sustainable practices, with hand harvesting, two-pass leaf thinning, and green harvesting on young vines.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage proved exceptional in Pomerol, offering near-ideal climatic conditions. The season benefited from a remarkable balance between warm days and cool nights, allowing for slow, complete ripening of the grapes. Harvest took place between September 27 and October 14, with controlled yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare. These conditions produced grapes of exceptional ripeness and aromatic intensity.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Château Le Gay 2016 were hand-harvested in small crates, then sorted twice on a sorting table before destemming. An additional berry-by-berry selection was carried out before vinification. A cold soak preceded fermentation, carried out with indigenous yeasts. Vinification was conducted in micro-plots, directly in new French oak barrels. The wine then rested for three months on fine lees after malolactic fermentation, followed by 18 months of aging in 100% new barrels.

Grape varieties

Merlot (90%)
Cabernet Franc (10%)