2016 Le Crock (St-Estephe)

The 2016 Le Crock is a blend of 46% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. It has an intense bouquet, showing quite noticeable new oak compared to some of its peers although there is a modest 30%. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin. This feels grainy in texture, one of the Left Bank wines that could be a doppelgänger for 2010, with a grippy, slightly masculine finish. Hopefully, it will develop more flesh during its élevage. 88-90 points

From the Léoville Poyferré stable, this is beautifully fresh, rich and tight. An excellent wine, extre r. The clay-rich terroir and the high percentage of Merlot combine to make a Saint-Estèphe of striking texture and depth. Because of the small berries of the Cabernet and the lower production of that grape, the 2016 blend includes more Merlot. 89-92 points