Château Olivier Pessac-Léognan rouge 2016 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A nose of exceptional elegance, bursting with fruit, floral, and mineral aromas; a flavorful palate with a fine texture, round tannins, abundant fruit, and plenty of freshness. Full of elegance and balance, 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 portion 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 good proportion of Sémillon, has become complex and elegant, with a well-defined personality—the 2017 vintage truly impressed us. The reds, now vinified much more skillfully, express their excellent terroir with greater precision; they are expressive and vibrant.

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 winery is really focusing on its red wine so that it can find its footing and develop its profile. It’s a good wine, but give it a solid 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 mouthfeel, this is a very successful red wine. It ages beautifully, with a finish that reveals noble tannins.

About the estate:

In just ten years, this Graves cru classé has undergone one of the most significant transformations in the appellation. 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 estate is absolutely magnificent! Nestled in the middle of a wooded area, it is built on a gravel terroir situated on a splendid, well-ventilated hilltop—ideal for producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. The most recent vintages bear witness 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 juicy blackberry flavors 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 racy minerality, and a very subtle hint of pepper (on the finish) and toasty oak. On the palate, it is fruity, juicy, and tightly structured, offering lovely structure, tension, richness, a beautiful acid line, 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. A very subtle hint of dark chocolate and black pepper is present on the finish and lingers.