2016 Site Dornfelder

Extremely enticing aromas of ripe plums and peaches with spices, such as nutmeg. Full-bodied, deep and firmly textured with beautiful fruit and a lovely, long and flavorful finish. Best since 1989. Try after 2021.

The 2016 Beau Site, owned by the Philippe Castèja family, is a blend of 16% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc cropped at 50 hectoliters per hectare. Picking commenced on 6 October, relatively late for the appelation. The bouquet is a mixture of red and black fruit, a touch of spice box and black pepper emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly hard tannin on the entry, firm in style, quite masculine with good fruit concentration to balance it out. It will need its barrel maturation to soften the edges here, but I appreciate the freshness and vitality. Although not the best known Saint Estèphe, I feel this will benefit from 5-6 years in the cellar.