2016 Bouchard Père & Fils Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
(a normal year for Bonnes-Mares, with the same crop level as in 2015; aging in one-third new oak): Dark red with ruby tones. Wonderfully sweet, sappy scents of black raspberry and spicecake. Fat, creamy and full but with lovely inner-mouth tension and lift to the complex, explosive flavors of black raspberry and flowers. I find this much more vibrant and delineated than the 2015 version. The slow-building whiplash of a finish displays noble tannins and building sweetness. Like some other examples of 2016 Bonnes-Mares, this wine transcends its vintage.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru is domaine bottled this year (whereas say, the Echézeaux, among others, is supplemented by purchased fruit). It has a gutsy bouquet with expressive raspberry, blueberry and crushed violet scents, though I found just a mote of VA that I suspect will disappear with bottle age. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy rounded opening, corpulent but well balanced with a confit-like finish. Give this three or four years in bottle before broaching.
The 2016 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru is domaine bottled this year (whereas, for example, the Echézeaux, among others, is supplemented by purchased fruit). It has a gutsy bouquet with expressive raspberry, blueberry and crushed violet scents, though I detected just a hint of VA that I suspect will disappear with bottle age. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy, rounded opening, corpulent but well balanced with a confit-like finish. Give this three or four years in bottle before broaching.
About the producer
Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest and most established wine producers. Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, it is the largest vineyard owner in the Côte d’Or with 130 hectares of vines.