If there is any 2016 Saint-Émilion left on the planet at the end of this year, it won’t be for lack of trying. I have been uncorking these bottles with relish on Thursdays (and other days), and they are consistently tasting just right. Want a sip of this vintage? Then you’d better hurry.
Château la Grâce Dieu les Menuts is a 15-hectare estate that straddles the gravelly hills bordering Pomerol and the clay-limestone plateau of “Les Menuts”. The mix of terrains guides the composition of the house blend: Currently 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Words like “soft” and “agreeable” often get tossed around when Merlot is discussed. But this wine makes you rethink all that with the propulsive power of its nose.
Tart black cherry and cocoa lead the charge, with a savory edge of sliced tomato. Cedar and incense add a woody lift, while deeper notes—plum sauce, iron, and a hint of meatiness—give it weight. A violet perfume hovers over everything. Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral? All of the above–and then some.
The palate is satisfyingly full, though it never tips over into heaviness. The flavors sit in an ideal balance between fruity and savory. The smoothness of the tannins is enlivened by well-integrated wood and vegetal spice (cedar and rye toast). Earthy and umami notes play peek-a-boo through a frame of ripe cherry, plum, and violet.
It’s long, dense, and continually evolving. We linger over the glass for an hour, then drink a toast to Merlot and finish the bottle.
Two-thirds of Château la Grâce Dieu les Menuts is matured in new and second-fill French oak, and one-third in tanks. The fruit comes from well-situated sites across Saint-Émilion, handled with a family-run winery’s attention to detail. The intensity and balance of this wine is spot-on.
It was also–conveniently–ready to drink right out of the bottle, no decant required. You could theoretically let the 2016 rest for a few more years…but you’ll have to find it before I do.
Bottle: Château la Grâce Dieu les Menuts Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (2016)
Variety: Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (20%)
ABV: 14.5%
Suggested retail: $48
My rating: 9.3 (out of 10)
Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
On Thursdays, we Merlot! You can view archived #MerlotThursday reviews here.
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