The best wines in Lalande de Pomerol in 2016 have really good succulence and texture. My picks? Jean-Luc Thunevin has produced another beauty at Domaine des Sabines [pictured left]. This wine shows remarkable consistency year to year. Hubert de Bouard has produced two terrific wines in La Fleur de Boüard and Le Plus de la Fleur de Boüard. The former is ravishing; the latter profound and concentrated. Château La Fleur St George, another de Boüard property, also looks good. Château Grand Ormeau, Château Jean de Gué, La Sergue, Château Saint-Jean de Lavaud and Château de Viaud all impressed at the Grand Cercle tastings. Château Siaurac and Château Tournefeuille, two well-regarded properties, also show promise. Siaurac was a little backward but nicely structured and Tournefeuille displayed plenty of joyful fruit.

The following wines [in alphabetical order!] were tasted blind at the Grand Cercle during primeurs week [in the main] as well as at Chateau Angélus and in the cellars of Jean-Luc Thunevin.

Château de Chambrun, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Deep; quite ripe; almost roasted note; salted beef; whole fruit too; rather simple on the palate; lacks complexity. Slight metallic note. Will be OK. [7ha, 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 85-87

Château de Viaud, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Nice colour; opaque at centre; nicely integrated oak with violet scent cherry fruit; real perfume here; works well; pure fruit; nicely styled; clean and clear; pure; good depth; some sinew; chocolate and mocha notes on the end. Good stuff! [21ha, 72% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 90-92+

Château Grand Ormeau, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; dark at centre; vibrant at edge; sappy and bright cherry style; some undergrowth; some layers; nicely done this; spicy plum tones; nice entry to the palate; good spicy qualities; has complexity; should work nicely – has very good depth and fruit. Actually a bit of a sleeper this. Excellent. [14ha, 64% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 90-92+

Château Jean de Gué, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; deep some tomato plant/ripe strawberry notes; like this; some richness; unctuousness; alongside a fruits of the forest/forest floor element; some coffee; comes together on the palate; undergrowth tones and some strawberry fruits; palate handled well. Some oak on the finish to integrate. Will work though. [10ha, 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 88-90

Château La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Deep looking; vibrant purple at edge; intense looking; more focused and precise; cool violet lift and ripe cherry perfume; layered and full;’ very enticing wine; nice entry; freshness here; cool fruit; the same fruit tones; harmonious; more sweetness from the oak here; definite influence on the wines; structured; lots of extra matter imparted by the oak. Little dominant perhaps but it adds up. Best La Fleur de Boüard yet? Certainly goes from strength to strength. [33ha, 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon]. Tasted at Angélus 2/4/17. Drink 2020-2028. 92-94

Château La Fleur St George, Lalande de Pomerol

Saturated; earthy red purple at edge; nice Bordeaux; plum, spices and Bordeaux qualities; quite open and sexy; sweet entry; attractive fruit; black fruits; nice texture; perhaps falls a little short on the finish but will probably fill out. Tasted at Angélus 2/4/17. Drink 2020-2024. 88-90+

La Sergue, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Deeply coloured; opaque; little reductive but more solid and with greater depth of fruit; black cherry and plum; good depth of fruit; little saline note; opens out in the glass – ripe and bold fruit tones emerge; nice entry on the palate; good depth; nicely balanced; textured. Good stuff. Nicely complete. [5ha, 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 89-91+

Le Plus de la Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Deep and saturated; inky and opaque at centre; little brooding initially; clearly deep; entry smooth; very pure fruit; lots of matter; saturated with flavour and refined oak; quite a lot going on; little too dry and present but will work its way out nicely; liquorice and chocolate from the oak; feels pretty big and alcoholic; rather chewy on the finish but very early days. Le Plus is increasingly a bold statement. Long life ahead of it. [2ha, 100% Merlot]. Tasted at Angélus 2/4/17. Drink 2022-2035. 93-94+

Château Perron La Fleur, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; healthy looking; little medicinal black cherry and plum tones; some spices; depth here; depth; some fruit; little extracted compared to the fruit; nice buzz from the acidity. [5ha, 100% Merlot]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 86-88

Château Saint-Jean de Lavaud, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; some light cherry aromatics but little dumb to start; bit of dark chocolate; quite taut and elegantly styled on the palate; nice purity and moreish fruit flavours; good balance too. This is more intellectually styled. Thoughtful and moreish. [1ha, 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 89-91+

Château Siaurac, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; red; little reductive at first; some plum and cherry notes; earthy note; has depth; cherry and plum fruit tones; little on the reductive style currently; quite sappy; appetizing on the finish. [46ha, 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. Drink 87-89+

Château Tournefeuille, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; deep at centre; fragrant violet and plum notes; pure; clean; easy palate; bouncy style; sweet and attractive; not wildly complexity but works. Great drinkablity. [17ha, 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. Drink 2019-2023. 87-89

Domaine des Sabines, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Deep and sat; lovely violet lift; a beauty; great fruit tones on the nose; attractive spice and satin quality on the nose; nice depth; works really well. Managed the extraction wonderfully here – but still has nice freshness. Tasted Jean-Luc Thunevin 1/4/17. 91-93

L’Ambroisie, Lalande de Pomerol, 2016

Mid depth; red at edge; intense and ambitious; has a degree of unctuousness; fruits of the forest floor style; impressive stuff; wood influence evident; wood on the palate; rather disjointed at present; there is good satiny fruit beneath; some mocha and coffee notes on the end; better than I think; will come together. [2ha, 100% Merlot]. Tasted Grand Cercle 1/4/17. 88-90

La Fleur de Boüard: best ever in 2016?