2016 Chateau Haut-Beausejour

Critical Acclaim JS93 James Suckling;A generous and round-textured red here. Full to medium body. Juicy and fruity. Pretty young wine — the best from here in a long time. Range: 92-93

One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.

Saint-Estèphe is one of the many famous Left Bank red wine appellations of Bordeaux, known for reds based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Situated at the northern end of the Haut-Médoc region on the gravelly western shores of the Gironde estuary, Saint-Estèphe is separated from its famous neighbor, Pauillac, only by a stream, yet there are significant differences between them. With 1,229 hectares (3036 acres) it accounts for 8 percent of the vineyard area of the Médoc.

Because Saint-Estèphe is marginally further from the gravel-bearing waters of the Garonne river, the soil here is far less stony than that found in the southern part of Haut-Médoc. Instead, a heavy clay and limestone base dominates this area, resulting in poorer-draining soils, delayed ripening and higher acidity levels in the wines.

In 1992, Jean-Claude Rouzaud, oenologist and Board Chairman of Champagne Louis Roederer, acquired and combined two Cru Bourgeois vineyards in the heart of the Medoc‘s prestigious Saint-Estèphe appellation: Chateau Picard and Chateau Beauséjour. Together, these properties make up what is now called Chateau Haut-Beauséjour.