2016 Tour Saint Christophe, St-Emilion (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1299457
96 points
James Suckling
This has a rich and ripe dark-fruit nose with a wealth of stony attraction and a lighter, floral edge. The palate has a very rich core of deeply ripe, fleshy fruit, framed in cedary oak. Really impressive clarity and web-like tannins. Superb finish.
(2/2019)
94 points
Jeb Dunnuck
This incredibly beautiful estate was purchased by Peter Kwok, a Hong Kong-based financier, in 2012. The estate covers a tiny 6.5 hectares (some terraced) just down from Château Barde-Haut, and it remains one of the hidden gems in just about every vintage. The 2016 Château Tour Saint Christophe is another winner. Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in 40% new French oak, this concentrated, structured 2016 is one for the cellar. It offers a deep ruby/purple color and a powerful array of black fruits, graphite, and earthy minerality as well as a hint of salinity and spring flowers. It has fine tannins (but plenty of them), beautiful balance, and a straight, focused texture, all pointing to the cellar being your friend. Hide bottles of 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15-20. Tasted twice. 94+
(2/2019)
94 points
Wine Advocate
The 2016 Tour Saint-Christophe is made up of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It was aged in 40% new, 40% one-year-old and 20% two-year-old oak for 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of roses, chocolate-covered cherries, redcurrant jelly and cinnamon stick with touches of cigar box and forest floor. Big, full-bodied and richly fruited yet with great tension, it has a compellingly perfumed palate and gorgeous velvety texture with great persistence. (LPB)
(11/2018)
93 points
Vinous
The 2016 Tour St. Christophe conveys a sense of joie-de-vivre on the nose, courtesy of vibrant cassis and raspberry preserve aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is well balanced with grippy tannins. There is real density and backbone to this Saint-Émilion, and yet there is plenty of freshness on the finish. But it will need considerable time in the cellar. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (NM)
(1/2020)
92 points
Decanter
Ripe, almost jammy nose but falls shy of overripe. Palate suave and opulent – big tannic frame coated in generous fruit. Energy and tension helps to provide a persistent finish. (JL)
(10/2019)
K&L Notes
93 points, Antonio Galloni in Vinous: "The 2016 Tour Saint Christophe is a potent, tightly wound wine that is going to need quite a bit of time to be at its best. That is surprising, as the 2016 was quite a bit more sensual en primeur. Even so, the 2016 is a gorgeous, hugely promising Saint-Émilion. Dark red cherry, plum, espresso, leather and tobacco build as this beautifully layered wine gradually reveals its many charms. There is so much to look forward to, once the tannins soften a bit." (01/2019)
