2016 Haut Simard
Buying options
Tasting notes
Plummy, sweet and round, this is full-bodied and concentrated, with real density to the fruit on the palate. It’s fresh, with a saline finish, yet there’s a solidity to this, not having the precision, brightness and aromatics of more recent vintages. Blend: 65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Enthusiast
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Haut-Simard is a very pretty wine. A high percentage of Cabernet Franc gives the wine its sense of energy, aromatic nuance and overall tension. Espresso, mocha, mint, rose petal and blood orange all infuse this striking Saint-Émilion. I very much like the sense of vibrancy here. Haut-Simard is one of the hidden gems in the Vauthier family's range of wines and a sleeper in 2016.
The 2016 Haut-Simard has a top-notch bouquet of gorgeous, well-defined blackberry, briar and raspberry aromas that burst from the glass. There is a floral aspect to this Saint-Émilion that the 2016 Simard does not possess. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine density and concentration and a very fine line of acidity. The oak (30% new) is seamlessly integrated, with a long tail on the finish. This is the finest Haut-Simard I have tasted. Excellent.
Made up of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Haut-Simard has a deep garnet-purple color and delivers a hedonistic nose of plum preserves, Black Forest cake and wild blueberries with touches of baking spices, dark chocolate and roses. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers intense black fruits and spice layers without heaviness, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and finishing on a lingering peppery note.
About the producer
Ch. Haut-Simard is owned by the Vauthier family of Ch. Ausone. Since Alain Vauthier took over the Saint-Emilion estate in 2008, quality here has risen exponentially with vintages from 2019 onwards in particular showing the potential of this exceptional terroir.