The 2016 Chateau Saint-Pierre is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc picked between 29 September and 3 October for the Merlot and 5-17 October for the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is matured is 50% new oak. The Cabernet comes through strongly on the nose as you would expect: quite intense black fruit, graphite and just a touch of dried herbs. There is lovely definition and focus on display. The palate is well balanced with grainy tannin, a crisp line of acidity, classic in style in keeping with the style of the vintage with very fine mineralité and tension towards the sprightly finish. It is one of the most Pauillac-like Château Saint-Pierres that I have tasted, a very well crafted, almost understated but sophisticated wine that will age for 20 to 30 years. This is a fantastic Saint Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score. 94-96 points

Structured and measured with grippy tannins, this is a subtle yet extremely successful wine. Fully ripe black fruits are joined by gentle spices that slowly curl up through the palate. These guys have been delivering such a fantastic run of vintages and continue to do so here - for me yet another St-Julien that is clearly better than the 2015. 95 points

Just a notch below its stable mate, Château Gloria, in 2016, but this is still a very serious St Julien from the Henri Martin portfolio. Concentrated, firm and vigorous, with leafy aromas, layered dark berry and tobacco flavours and plenty of supporting tannin. 93 points

A potential sleeper for the vintage, the 2016 Saint-Pierre is terrific. Graphite, smoke, spice, crème de cassis and grilled herbs all show a strong Cabernet Sauvignon imprint. That carries through to the wine`s structure, where the tannins are firm and incisive yet nicely integrated. Vivid and nuanced, with terrific energy as well as class. Today, it is bold, racy and ripe; if it softens over time, it will be even better than this note suggests. 91-94 points