2016 Chateau le Gay

Merlot

France / Bordeaux / Libournais / Pomerol

$160
JD 94
RP 95
V 94
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Availability: 1

2016 Chateau le Gay, Pomerol, France

TERROIR The property spreads over 10.5 hectares in one unique holding. The clay and gravel soils of the Pomerol plateau.

GRAPE VARIETY PROPORTION 10 % of Cabernet franc, that brings roundness, suppleness and fruit, 90 % of Merlot that gives finesse, body and fruit. Age of vines: 40 years on average, the young vines planted in 2006 produce Le Manoir de Gay.

VINEYARD WORK Pruning adapted to each vinestock, de-budding and green harvesting on the young vines. Leaf thinning in two phases.

VINIFICATION Château LE GAY: Hand-picked harvest in small cartons, double sorting table before de-stemming then sorted berry-by-berry, cellar; Micro-vinification in new oak barrels with a long period of cold maceration.

BARREL AGEING The same French oak barrels used for Micro-vinification will house the wine during 18 months for the malo-lactic fermentation and ageing.

PRODUCTION Château LE GAY : 20.000 bottles (based on a yield of 25 HL/Ha).

« Pomerol has become a myth. This small Bordeaux appellation, unbothered by the classifications, unknown only a half century ago, has revealed itself to have a formidable potential. Its reigning grape variety, the Merlot, produces its full expression and in Pomerol, for the savvy, one speaks of the plateau, saint of saints where we find Le Gay amongst the most prestigious of crus ». MICHEL ROLLAND

JD 94

Jeb Dunnuck

(Rating 94+) As with the La Violette, the 2016 Château Le Gay shows a slightly more elegant, structured style yet still packs rocking levels of fruit and texture. Mulled dark fruits, new saddle leather, camphor, and tobacco all give way to a full-bodied Pomerol that has building tannins, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s still holding things close to its vest, and while I miss some of the sheer opulence found in vintages such as 2005, 2009, and 2010, this is still going to be brilliant. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and it should shine for two decades or more. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: February 28, 2019. Drinking window: 2023-2043.
RP 95

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

(Rating 95+) Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Le Gay has a rock star nose of flamboyant Black Forest cake, crushed redcurrants and lilacs scents with underlying nuances of yeast extract, wood smoke, iron ore and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate truly struts its stuff with generous black and red fruits and a fantastic line of super ripe tannins, building to a very long, seductively perfumed finish. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Issue date: November 30, 2018. Drinking window: 2021-2045.
V 94

Vinous

The 2016 Le Gay is terrific. Rich, explosive and vertical in feel, the 2016 is a wine of pedigree and real class. Inky blue and purplish fruit, licorice, lavender all race across the palate. From bottle, Le Gay is more a wine of subtlety and vibrancy than pure power. As good as it is, my impression today is that the fruit is a bit dried out. I liked the 2016 more from barrel. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: December 2018. Drinking window: 2024 - 2036.

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FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE: We provide FREE carrier insurance for lost or damaged shipments (per carrier terms and conditions.)

FREE WINE STORAGE: We provide FREE 6 Months wine cellar storage from date of purchase. Please choose this option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping for a later date.

SHIPPING: During warm summer weather, we recommend to only ship within the United States with Same Day or Next Day Air service to protect the wines from environmental damage. If you would like to waive this protection by shipping Ground, we will request a waiver be signed.

PACKAGING: Our premium wines need optimal temperature consistency, therefore are packaged in EPS foam shippers with gel pack (when needed) and shipped only during ideal weather temperatures.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, wine bottles will be removed from case and shipped inside a foam shipper box for safety (unless otherwise requested). The wooden case will be shipped separately at Ground service. If faster service is necessary please contact us.

WEATHER HOLD: In adverse temperature conditions, we reserve the right to withhold shipment until ideal temperatures return unless we receive explicit instructions via email to release the wines, voiding any guarantee. We will contact you if a hold is necessary.

FULFILLMENT: Shipments are via UPS.

  • Orders received Monday - Thursday before 2:00 p.m. will typically ship the same day.
  • Orders received Thursday 2:00 p.m. ~ Sunday will ship on Monday.

DELIVERY:

  • Same Day service within Los Angeles Metro area may be available if order is placed before noon, but not guaranteed. Please contact us directly at (626)714-7006 to facilitate expedited service.
  • During extreme temperatures, all shipments are recommended for Next Day Air.

Adult Signature: By law, all shipments of alcohol must be received and authorized by an adult. Our delivery carriers will not release packages without an adult signature and additional charges may be incurred if the package requires withholding or redirection.

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We ship within the United States to: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 94

Jeb Dunnuck

(Rating 94+) As with the La Violette, the 2016 Château Le Gay shows a slightly more elegant, structured style yet still packs rocking levels of fruit and texture. Mulled dark fruits, new saddle leather, camphor, and tobacco all give way to a full-bodied Pomerol that has building tannins, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s still holding things close to its vest, and while I miss some of the sheer opulence found in vintages such as 2005, 2009, and 2010, this is still going to be brilliant. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and it should shine for two decades or more. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: February 28, 2019. Drinking window: 2023-2043.
RP 95

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

(Rating 95+) Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Le Gay has a rock star nose of flamboyant Black Forest cake, crushed redcurrants and lilacs scents with underlying nuances of yeast extract, wood smoke, iron ore and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate truly struts its stuff with generous black and red fruits and a fantastic line of super ripe tannins, building to a very long, seductively perfumed finish. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Issue date: November 30, 2018. Drinking window: 2021-2045.
V 94

Vinous

The 2016 Le Gay is terrific. Rich, explosive and vertical in feel, the 2016 is a wine of pedigree and real class. Inky blue and purplish fruit, licorice, lavender all race across the palate. From bottle, Le Gay is more a wine of subtlety and vibrancy than pure power. As good as it is, my impression today is that the fruit is a bit dried out. I liked the 2016 more from barrel. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: December 2018. Drinking window: 2024 - 2036.

2016 Chateau le Gay, Pomerol, France

TERROIR The property spreads over 10.5 hectares in one unique holding. The clay and gravel soils of the Pomerol plateau.

GRAPE VARIETY PROPORTION 10 % of Cabernet franc, that brings roundness, suppleness and fruit, 90 % of Merlot that gives finesse, body and fruit. Age of vines: 40 years on average, the young vines planted in 2006 produce Le Manoir de Gay.

VINEYARD WORK Pruning adapted to each vinestock, de-budding and green harvesting on the young vines. Leaf thinning in two phases.

VINIFICATION Château LE GAY: Hand-picked harvest in small cartons, double sorting table before de-stemming then sorted berry-by-berry, cellar; Micro-vinification in new oak barrels with a long period of cold maceration.

BARREL AGEING The same French oak barrels used for Micro-vinification will house the wine during 18 months for the malo-lactic fermentation and ageing.

PRODUCTION Château LE GAY : 20.000 bottles (based on a yield of 25 HL/Ha).

« Pomerol has become a myth. This small Bordeaux appellation, unbothered by the classifications, unknown only a half century ago, has revealed itself to have a formidable potential. Its reigning grape variety, the Merlot, produces its full expression and in Pomerol, for the savvy, one speaks of the plateau, saint of saints where we find Le Gay amongst the most prestigious of crus ». MICHEL ROLLAND

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