CHATEAU GRAND CORBIN-DESPAGNE Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion 2016 Bottle ORG

Description

The 2016 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne is a magnificent Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé that perfectly encapsulates the brilliance of this legendary vintage. A masterful blend predominantly crafted from Merlot (typically around 75%), seamlessly integrated with Cabernet Franc (24%) and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon (1%), it pours a deep, opaque purple.

On the nose, it offers an alluring bouquet of crushed blackberries, dark plums, and black cherries, delicately interwoven with nuanced hints of truffle, crushed stone, and subtle oak spices. The palate is beautifully medium to full-bodied, showcasing a remarkable harmony between concentrated dark fruit, refreshing acidity, and incredibly refined, velvety tannins. This organic estate has produced an elegant, deeply structured wine that promises magnificent ageing potential for decades.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 93 points
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Drink Date: 2020 - 2032
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Grand Corbin-Despagne rocks up with exuberant notions of wild blueberries, Black Forest cake and plum preserves with hints of lavender, underbrush and cloves. Full-bodied and with great concentration, the palate delivers bags of perfumed fruit layers, finishing with excellent persistence.
Published: Nov 30, 2018

DECANTER 93 points
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 15 May 2020)
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040
Lovely medium intensity purple on the colour, this is concentrated with clear and strong cassis and bilberry flavours and some fresh mint notes as it opens up through the palate - plenty of layers and complexity to unpick over the years to come. The Corbin sector on the clays near to Pomerol did a great job of resisting the periods of drought in 2019. A yield of 36hl/ha. 50% new oak. The 208th vintage of the Despagne family here, 24th for François Despagne.

JAMES SUCKLING 93 points
Attractive dark-stone aromas with graphite and ripe dark berries sit fresh on the nose. The palate has a riper feel with very rich, dense fruit presence and a heavier, tannin line weight. Full body. Try from 2022.

VINOUS 92+ points
Drinking window: 2021 - 2031
The 2016 Grand Corbin Despagne is powerful and muscular in the glass, with potent, sinewy tannins that enshroud the fruit. Iron, smoke, chalk, crushed rocks and earthy notes add shades of complexity to this decidedly austere Saint-Émilion. Grand Corbin Despagne is one of the more tightly wound Saint-Émilions readers will come across in 2016.
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: December 2018