2016 Chateau Gazin, Pomerol

Neil Martin in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94-96: "The 2016 Gazin is a blend of 87% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc this year, picked from 22 September with respect to the Merlot and from around 7 or 8 October for the Cabernet Franc. Now this has quite a powerful bouquet for Gazin, more heightened fruit compared to recent vintages with blackberry, briary and pressed flower aromas that are well defined (although my sample demanded two or three minutes to really find its voice). The palate is medium-bodied with a gently grip on the entry. I adore the tannic structure to this Gazin, equidistant between masculine and feminine, a backbone that will ensure this will age over many years. There is abundant, lightly spiced black fruit with a touch of cracked black pepper and clove towards the finish. The 50% new oak will add a little muscle onto the finish, thereupon you will have a really marvelous Gazin that will give three years of drinking pleasure, possibly more."

DECANTER 94: "Classic, almost savoury fruits here, among the most left bank in style of all the Pomerols with cassis and black pepper spice. It´s a wine that steals up on you - I tasted it several times and became increasingly impressed by the construction and the measured delivery of excellence. A full 13% of Cabernets here, split between 5% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest proportion of the latter for many years."  

René Gabriel 18/20: "Frisches, kräftiges, komplexes Bouquet, Erdbeeren, Himbeergelee, After Eight, Feuerstein, frische Kräuter. Ausgewogener, seidener, dichtverwobener Gaumen mit kräftiger Frucht, feinem Tannin, vielfältiger Aromatik, eleganter Struktur, langer, voller Abgang. Kann noch zulegen."

VINUM 19/20: "Süperbe Aromatik. mineralisch-blumig-würzig; grosse Tiefe, eng, sehr eng sitzendes, erstklassiges Tannin, verblüffende sehnige Länge: Top-Buy!"