Chateau La Vieille Cure 2016
- Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
Last year this was one of the wines of the vintage for me. It is a little more finely grained in 2016, slightly more structured and with a touch higher acidity, but still has those succulent black cherry and damson purée fruits. It also retains the twist of glamorous charred oak notes that give it punch and purpose. An excellent wine. Drinking Window 2022 - 2035
-
Jeb Dunnuck
From one of the top terroirs in Fronsac and made with the help of talented Jean-Luc Thunevin, the 2016 Château La Vieille Cure is 80% Merlot and 10% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, all aged in 50% new oak (a small part is also brought up in tank). This deep purple-colored effort got a big “Wow” in my notes and boasts a head-turning bouquet of cassis and black raspberry fruits intermixed with notes of dried flowers, vanilla bean, and leafy herbs. With remarkable purity, medium to full body, silky tannins, and a great finish, it’s a thrilling Fronsac that I suspect might be one of the best to date. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.
-
James Suckling
A riper style with some darker-plum and mulberry aromas, framed in lightly spicy and cedary oak influence. The palate has good depth and silkiness with a wealth of fine, plush tannins and a smooth, fresh and flavorful finish. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2022.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 La Vieille Cure has a deep garnet-purple color and quite a savory nose of chargrilled meats, tapenade, beef dripping and dried herbs over a core of plum preserves and Black Forest cake. Full-bodied, rich and packed with black plums and savory layers, it has a firm, velvety frame and fantastic length.
-
Wine Spectator
This has a warm fruitcake note out front, backed by flavors of frankly ripe plum and boysenberry preserves and a lush, toasty finish. Has enough acidity to keep it honest, but this is on the flattering side of the ledger for sure. Drink now through 2028.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Rich but stylish, this wine is going to be delicious. With great fruit and ripe tannins, it has power but it shows that lightly, allowing plenty of room for the acidity. Drink this wine from 2022.
Editors' Choice
Other Vintages
2022-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
- Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Spectator
Wine -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
Château La Vieille Cure is a Bordeaux estate in the eastern Fronsac appellation. It makes a Merlot-dominant grand vin and second wine, blended with Cabernet Franc and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon. The château dates back to the 18th Century – it features on a prominent map of the region made in 1780. Wine production on the property has an even longer history with 17th Century parish records mentioning vineyards there.
The estate took its modern form when it was bought by Americans Peter Sachs and Colin Ferenbach in 1986. The duo built a new winery, replanted vines and enacted extensive renovations. La Vieille Cure stopped selling a portion of its wine in bulk to be sold under other labels and began exclusively estate bottling. Since the 1980s the wine went from being primarily sold regionally in Fronsac, to distribution in more than 25 countries.
The vineyard covers 20 hectares (50 acres) and, uncommonly for Bordeaux, is a single large plot. It is planted on a limestone plateau above the Dordogne river near Libourne. The landscape includes southwest exposed hills of chalk and clay sub-soils. The grapes are mechanically destemmed, hand-sorted, with maceration lasting three to four weeks. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, while malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel.