Three properties which were standouts from our en primeur tastings in Bordeaux and offer terrific value are Ch Beaumont Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc at £114 per 12 IB, Ch Lanessan Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc at £125 per 12 IB, and Ch Mauvesin Barton Cru Bourgeois Moulis-en-Médoc at £135 per 12 IB.
Grands Millésimes de France, which now owns Ch Beaumont, is consistently producing some of the best value Cru Bourgeois available in Bordeaux, and at under £10/bottle IB it looks excellent value.
Ch Lanessan located just to the south of Ch Gruaud Larose, is one of our ‘recommended value wines of the vintage’. We were impressed by the quality of this highly respected estate, which punches well above it weight year in year out. They made a extremely good 2016 and it is priced well at £125 per case.
Ch Mauvesin Barton is the most recent addition to the Barton family’s estates (joining Chx Léoville and Langoa Barton). The 2016 is their best wine since taking over in 2011, and offers excellent value at £135 per case.
2016 has produced some “absolutely stunning reds” according to Jancis Robinson, and has been described as “an excellent year” by James Suckling. All three wines offer immense value and will deliver superb early drinking pleasure.
2016 Ch Beaumont Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc
£114 per 12 Bottles IB
£124 per 6 Magnums IB
£199 per 3 Double Magnums IB
Deep brooding dark black fruits on the nose, which flow through into the palate. Not a robust wine, just deliciously approachable, pure and fresh, with a gentle sweetness on the finish. Very classical. Drink 2023-2030. Goedhuis, 88-90 points
A juicy and pretty wine with berry and chocolate character, a medium body and a clean finish. Clearly better than the 2015. James Suckling, 91-92 points
2016 Ch Lanessan Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc
£125 per 12 Bottles IB
£135 per 6 Magnums IB
£210 per 3 Double Magnums IB
Neighbouring the great Crus Classés of St Julien, it has always irked this property that it never received the classification it feels it deserves. This excellent 2016 highlights the strength of its terroir. Bright black- and redcurrant aromas. This has a lovely feeling of drive, with tightly integrated tannins and a brightness of fruit on the finish. A very complete wine. Drink 2023-2033. Goedhuis, 90-92 points
The 2016 Lanessan has a perfumed, quite floral bouquet with graphite tinged black fruit-fine delineation with impressive focus, even if it is not the most complex Haut-Medoc that I encountered in this vintage out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannin, well-judged acidity, plenty of black fruit with a harmonous, engaging and slightly tarry finish. This is a great Lanessan that should give 20 years of pleasure. This comes highly recommended and I expect it will land at the top of my banded score once in bottle. Neal Martin, 90-92 points
2016 Ch Mauvesin Barton Cru Bourgeois Moulis-en-Médoc
£135 per 12 Bottles IB
£145 per 6 Magnums IB
£220 per 3 Double Magnums IB
Shining purple colour, this superb 2016 highlights the investment and dedication that Lilian Barton has put into this recent purchase in the Moulis. Fresh red fruit aromas and flavours, this is a bright and lively wine, with a well-integrated tannic structure. Clean pure and harmonious for midterm drinking. Drink 2023-2037. Goedhuis, 90-92 points
The 2016 Mauvesin Barton is terrific. Silky, layered and gracious, as it usually is, the 2016 also offers a bit more depth and midpalate pliancy than is typically the case. Sweet red and purplish fruit, flowers and mint give the wine aromatic lift, and there is lovely purity to the fruit. In 2016, it is the wine’s balance that is truly commendable. Antonio Galloni, 87-89 points