Château Olivier Pessac-Léognan rouge 2016 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A very elegant nose, bursting with fruit, floral, and mineral aromas; the palate is flavorful, with a fine texture, round tannins, abundant fruit, and plenty of freshness. It is elegant and well-balanced, yet its potential is undeniable. Best enjoyed before 2034.

About the estate:

This magnificent estate on the outskirts of Bordeaux has managed to preserve, in addition to its 55-hectare vineyard, a large expanse of forests and meadows. In the early 2000s, the Bethmann family undertook major renovations and entrusted the management of the estate to Laurent Lebrun. His meticulous approach and keen analysis of the terroir have led to a significant leap in the quality of the wines. The white wine, which traditionally contains a significant proportion of Sémillon, has become complex and elegant, with a well-defined personality; the 2017 vintage truly impressed us. The reds, now vinified to a much higher standard, express their excellent terroir with greater precision; they are expressive and energetic.

Decanter

About the wine:

For now, the wine is tight, still extremely young, and dominated by Cabernet. You can sense the depth of the fruit, and it will take time for it to open up. The estate is really focusing on its red wine to help it find its footing and develop its profile. It’s a good wine, but give it a good five years before you even think about opening it. 2025–2040

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Deep, with expressive fruit and a round palate, this is a very successful red wine. It is aging beautifully, with a finish that reveals noble tannins.

About the estate:

In just ten years, this Graves classified growth has undergone one of the appellation’s most significant transformations. Under the leadership of Laurent Lebrun, the wines have reached an excellent standard, and the commitment of Alexandre de Bethmann, the owner, is undeniable. He has invested significant financial resources to restructure the vineyard. It must be said that this property is absolutely magnificent! Nestled in the middle of a wooded area, it sits on a gravelly terroir atop a splendid, well-ventilated hilltop, ideal for producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. The latest vintages produced are a testament to this new momentum.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

The dense tannins are balanced by equally rich fruit in this wine. It comes from vineyards surrounding the medieval moated castle on the outskirts of Bordeaux. The wine is full of flavors of juicy blackberries that envelop a core of freshness. Both qualities will allow the wine to age well. Best enjoyed starting in 2025.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A solid structure of fairly fresh fruit with blackcurrant and notes of stone fruit. Full-bodied, with polished yet firm tannins and a juicy finish. Notes of asphalt and smoke give way to black fruit on the finish. Best enjoyed in 2022.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

Dark berries, Zan, vanilla. Very fresh, juicy, savory, and fruity on the palate, with a very long finish and well-integrated tannins.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity, elegant, and refined, offering lovely depth and structure. It features notes of red fruits (raspberry, cherry, wild berries) combined with subtle hints of blackberry and blackcurrant, along with discreet touches of coffee, a refined minerality, and a very subtle hint of pepper (on the finish) and toasted oak. On the palate, the wine is fruity, juicy, and tightly structured, offering lovely structure, tension, richness, a beautiful acid framework, roundness, fine elegance, as well as a lovely freshness and a subtle creaminess. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry, crushed raspberry, crushed strawberry, and subtle hints of crème de cassis, combined with hints of toasty oak as well as a very subtle hint of sweet spices and pepper on the finish. The tannins are fine and silky. There is a very subtle hint of dark chocolate and black pepper on the finish and in the aftertaste.