Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Shows some class with blueberry, blackberry and walnut character. Medium body, tight and polished tannins and a juicy finish. Balanced and sophisticated texture.
Barrel Sample: 92-93 -
Wine Enthusiast
Produced from old Merlot vines and aged in 100% new wood, this is a powerful wine. It works impressively despite the heavy, mint and toast woodiness because the black fruit is so rich and concentrated.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2016 Château Lyonnat Émotion displays a deep ruby hue and opens with refined aromas of sandalwood, dried stones, and hints of dried cherries. On the palate, it glides smoothly, revealing layers of dried earth, oak spice, and black berry flavors framed by supple tannins and balanced acidity. Elegant and composed, this Right Bank Bordeaux pairs beautifully with a lightly grilled ribeye, where its earthy depth and polished structure complement the char and richness of the meat. (Tasted: November 13, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
In the vineyard, the grape variety takes into account the cold character of the soil. Merlot now dominates with 90% of the vines, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc have been lowered to 10% to produce pressed rosé wines.
In the cellar, Chateau Lyonnat has not succumbed, like many other areas, to "all stainless": on the contrary, they chose to keep all its custom-made concrete tanks, which help the winemaker achieve a distinct style.
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.