Château Haut-Marbuzet - Saint-Estèphe 2016

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A truly magnificent nose, with superb complexity and elegance, pure fruit, and mineral and spicy notes; on the palate, it is sumptuous, smooth, harmonious, long, and well-balanced.

About the estate:

This world-renowned estate is located in Marbuzet, on a hillside overlooking the Gironde River. Its vineyards lie halfway between Cos d’Estournel and Montrose. Henri Dubosq, a leading figure in the Médoc, has been crafting the estate’s wines with great success since 1982. In 2006, he partnered with Michelin-starred chef Philippe Jorand to enhance the 13 hectares of Château Layauga-Duboscq, situated on prime terroirs around Gaillan and Queyrac. The wines of Haut-Marbuzet have always been full-bodied, combining roundness and richness, with great aging potential. Haut-Marbuzet is truly a superb, must-visit estate within the appellation.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2016 Haut-Marbuzet is a brilliant vintage from this Saint-Estèphe benchmark. The wine unfolds in the glass with a deep bouquet of blackberries and blackcurrants intertwined with subtle notes of exotic spices, cigar leaf, vanilla bean, and licorice. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, it is layered and concentrated, with a tight core, ripe, structuring tannins, and a long, penetrating finish. Readers will have a hard time choosing between the lush and extroverted 2019 and the more reserved and serious 2016, but I suspect that in 20 years, it will be the latter that emerges as the best Haut-Marbuzet of the decade.

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

About the wine:

Very classic and elegant, with the smoothness of the vintage.

About the estate:

No other Bordeaux estate can claim to have such a devoted community of enthusiasts. For over thirty years, Haut-Marbuzet and its colorful and dynamic owner, Henri Dubosq—now supported by his sons—have won the hearts of discerning wine lovers. While these wines have long been considered charming in their youth (which they undeniably are), yet limited in terms of aging potential, one must taste the mature vintages of this Saint-Estèphe estate to understand that its terroir is above all capable of producing wines that age beautifully. The old Merlot vines planted on blue clay lend Haut-Marbuzet’s bouquet superb truffle notes reminiscent of certain old Pomerols. Like many others, the estate experienced a slight dip in form in the early 2000s, but its strong comeback in recent years makes it more indispensable than ever in the wine lover’s cellar.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

This estate, owned by the Duboscq family, is a benchmark in the appellation, as evidenced by this wine’s rich tannins. Well-balanced with substantial fruit and good concentration, the wine is dense and full-bodied yet elegant. Best enjoyed starting in 2024.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A very expressive Saint-Estèphe with an abundance of fresh blackberries and blueberries, as well as notes of smoke and terracotta on the nose. A beautiful balance of fruit and full body, followed by tannins that come through on a bold finish.

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

A deep, intense, and beautiful color. The nose is moderately aromatic, with subtle notes of ripe fruit. The palate is soft and, above all, delightful, allowing the aromas to fully express themselves. The body is medium, but the charm is undeniable. Very good length.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, refined, and distinguished, offering subtle complexity and harmony. It reveals notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, and, more subtly, fleshy wild raspberry, combined with delicate hints of violet, rose, and anise, as well as subtle touches of Sichuan pepper and spices. The palate is fruity, balanced, beautifully refined, silky, and offers juiciness, good definition, lovely finesse, good structure, harmony, and delicacy. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of blackberry, wild raspberry, and, more subtly, crushed strawberry and cherry, combined with hints of blueberry, violet, and anise, as well as subtle hints of spice and very subtle hints of coffee (in the background). The tannins are well-integrated and elegant.