Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 95
The 2016 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is surprisingly discrete and understated on the nose, precise mineral-rich black fruit mixed with orange zest and iodine, gradually opening up with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a sorbet-like freshness on the entry, more red fruit here, cranberry, kirsch, raspberry coulis mixed with hints of fig and white pepper that lead to a spicy but quite strict finish. Tasted at the Domaine.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2045
Vinous 90-93
(30% new oak; production was down by two-thirds owing to the frost): Briary red fruits and black cherry on the nose, along with some subtle spicy oak notes; showing less of this wine’s normal blueberry and mineral aromas. Fairly smooth but tight, conveying an impression of slightly green acidity to the complex flavors of medicinal dark cherry, herbs, peony, lilac, licorice and menthol. The most tannic of these 2016s to this point and a bit lacking in give. Finishes with dark fruits and a repeating note of menthol. Hard to assess at this stage of its evolution in barrel.
Wine Advocate 94-96
“The 2016 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru was 70% affected by the frost, though François explained that the north side was spared the damage. It offers slightly darker fruit on the nose compared to the Les Amoureuses: blackcurrant, tobacco, sage and in the background a touch of flint and violet petal. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, though not quite as supple as the Les Amoureuses. I admire the symmetry here: a detailed and linear Bonnes Mares with impressive mineralité on the finish that lingers 45 to 60 seconds after the wine has departed.”
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2045
