The 2016 Bellevue Bordeaux Blend from Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, is a noteworthy red wine crafted exclusively from Merlot grapes grown on clay and limestone soils. This wine is deep garnet-purple in color and exhibits a rich and complex profile, indicative of its meticulous production and the quality of its terroir.
One of the highlights of the 2016 Bellevue is its outstanding review from James Suckling, who awarded it a remarkable score of 97. He describes it as a "dense and layered red with ripe plums and blueberries, as well as hints of wet earth and moss," further praising its "full-bodied, velvety and layered" nature with "fantastic fruit and creamy, velvety tannins."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, represented by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, gave this wine a commendable 94+ score. She noted its "enthusiastic notions of crushed red and black plums, kirsch, ripe blackberries, and rose petals," along with additional nuances of "yeast extract, black olives, aniseed, and cinnamon toast." Perrotti-Brown highlighted the wine's "solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins" and "oodles of freshness lifting the densely packed, multilayered fruit to a good, long finish."
Jeb Dunnuck also rated the 2016 Bellevue highly with a score of 94, emphasizing its "beautiful minerality and freshness in its black raspberry, crushed rocks, graphite, and dried flower aromas and flavors." He praised its "medium-bodied, focused, and precise" palate, recommending a 3-5 year wait before enjoying it over the next two decades.
Wine Spectator's J.M. awarded a score of 93, appreciating its "lush and inviting" character with "warm cassis and plum sauce flavors," and hints of "anise and rooibos tea." The publication advised that it can be enjoyed now through 2035.
Decanter echoed this sentiment with a 93 score, noting the wine's "lovely creamy texture" and "attractive spice notes," highlighting its "good persistency and juicy fruit that fills out the tannins."
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider gave the wine a 95 score, lauding its "rich, silky textures, polished tannins, and freshness," with a "plummy, mineral-driven finish" and accents of "dark chocolate, spice, and earth."
Wine Enthusiast also provided a positive review with a score of 92, remarking on its "intensity and concentration" and "layers of acidity, tannins, and juicy freshness."
Overall, the 2016 Bellevue Bordeaux Blend is celebrated for its depth, complexity, and age-worthiness, making it a distinguished choice for wine enthusiasts.