Château des Laurets : "Baron" Sélection Parcellaire 2016

Characteristics and tasting advice for the "Baron" Sélection Parcellaire 2016 from Château des Laurets

Tasting

Color
A deep red hue with violet highlights, almost black, reflects the wine’s exceptional concentration.

Nose
The nose reveals beautiful aromatic complexity dominated by intense black-fruit notes (blackberry, black cherry), complemented by elegant woody nuances. Aromas of sweet spices (clove, cinnamon) mingle with touches of cedar and tobacco, adding an extra dimension to the bouquet.

Palate
The attack is clean and powerful, immediately showcasing the wine’s concentration. The tannic structure is remarkably silky and refined, offering a velvety texture despite its assertive presence. Flavors of ripe black fruits burst across the palate, supported by a signature freshness that brings balance and tension. The finish lingers beautifully, marked by a distinctive menthol note and fine aromatic persistence.

Food and wine pairings
This wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, notably dry-aged beef prepared Bordeaux-style. It also elegantly accompanies feathered or furred game, particularly when served with rich mushroom sauces. Grilled lobster with garlic and ginger, or fine shellfish, also make excellent pairings. For cheese lovers, opt for a well-aged farmstead Brie de Meaux.

Serving and cellaring
The "Baron" Sélection Parcellaire 2016 will benefit from being decanted 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving to allow full aromatic expression. Serve between 16 and 18°C to appreciate all its complexity.

An exceptional Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion merlot by Rothschild

The estate
Acquired in 2003 by Benjamin and Ariane de Rothschild, Château des Laurets belongs to Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild (Edmond de Rothschild Heritage). Located on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, in the Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion appellation, the estate spans 40 hectares of clay-limestone soils planted with 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. The property stands out for its old-vine cuvées planted in 1946 and its Baron selection, produced in small quantities and aged at length in barrels.

The vineyard
The "Baron" Sélection Parcellaire comes exclusively from the estate’s four finest hectares, situated on the limestone plateau of Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion. These outstanding parcels benefit from an ideal south-southeast exposure and rest on clay-limestone soils enriched with limestone. The naturally low pH of this terroir is a major technical advantage, allowing optimal phenolic ripeness while preserving the hallmark freshness of the estate’s wines. The vines selected for this cuvée receive special attention and meticulous vineyard management.

The vintage
The 2016 vintage stands out as one of the most remarkable of the decade in Bordeaux. The year began with a particularly wet winter and spring from January to mid-June, encouraging the development of aromatic precursors in the vine. Flowering took place in early June under favorable conditions. The hot, sunny summer was punctuated by timely rainfall in mid-September, enabling the grapes to complete ripening in ideal conditions. This year is characterized by the production of exceptionally small berries, concentrating aromas and tannins and yielding wines of great purity with outstanding aging potential.

Vinification and aging
The grapes for the "Baron" Sélection Parcellaire 2016 are harvested by hand, with rigorous selection of the best bunches. A cold pre-fermentation maceration gently extracts aromatic compounds and color. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled wooden and stainless-steel vats, followed by malolactic fermentation in oak barrels. Aging lasts 16 months in French oak barrels, with a significant proportion of new oak, giving the wine its aromatic complexity and refined tannic structure. The wine then undergoes an additional 12 months of aging before release.

Grape variety
100% merlot.