2016 Château Haut-Simard
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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
James Suckling
Wine Enthusiast
More reviews and scores
The team at Ausone turned out a brilliant 2016 Château Haut-Simard, which has a fresh, elegant style that’s very much in the vintage. Pure crème de cassis, violets, spring flowers, and some obvious minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied Saint-Emilion that has high yet integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a terrific finish. Hide bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15.
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.
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.