Château Prieuré-Lichine 2016

A balanced, dense and elegant red wine from Margaux

A 4th Classified Growth of 1855 produced under the Margaux appellation, Chateau Prieure- Lichine boasts a vineyard with a total area of 77.5 hectares. The vines, aged 30 years on average, are planted on Garonne gravel of the Günzian type. The wine is matured in oak barrels, with 50% new barrels and 50% barrels with one vintage. The 2016 vintage features a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

After a mild and rainy winter, spring brought average temperatures and precipitation, which allowed for the regular growth of the vineyard but also a high risk of mildew and powdery mildew. The month of June saw some rains, which had no consequence on the flowering of the vine. The summer was hot and marked by a great drought, with the gravelly soil showing strong water stress, quite risky for the young vines. However, on September 13th, a thunderstorm provided the vines 40 mm of rain, making possible the perfect maturity of the berries, as did the few rains in late September and mid-October. The harvest of this vintage took place from September 23rd to October 19th.

Upon tasting, the Château Prieure-Lichine 2016 combines balance, density and elegance. The acidity, more present than in the 2015 vintage, reveals an extremely harmonious ageing potential.