2016 Wine

2016 Wine

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The 2016 vintage in France will be remembered as a paradoxical yet exceptional year. After a spring marked by heavy rainfall and heavy mildew pressure, the summer drought slowed ripening before two saving September rains revived the vines. The result: 2016 wines of rare precision, combining concentration, freshness and balance. In Bordeaux, Château Latour 2016 is described as a masterpiece of power and finesse, and Petrus 2016 as a wine of unparalleled richness and depth. In Burgundy, the low yields caused by frost produced rare, concentrated wines of masterful quality. The 2016 Rhône is unanimously praised by Decanter and the international press as one of the great vintages of the century. In 2026, the 2016 wine celebrates its 10th anniversary: it is the ideal 10-year anniversary wine.

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Our article on the 2016 vintage
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2016 Bordeaux Grand Crus Classés
10-Year Anniversary Wine

10-Year Anniversary Wine
Vintage Guide - SoDivin

SoDivin Vintage Guide

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The 2016 Vintage: Rare Balance and Wines Destined for Legendary Status

The 2016 vintage is considered one of France’s greatest of the 21st century, rivaling 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2015. After a spring marked by heavy rain and mildew pressure, summer drought slowed ripening before two welcome September rains revived the vines. The result: 2016 wines of rare precision, combining concentration, freshness, and balance. The great Bordeaux wines of 2016 are at their best, particularly on the Left Bank, where 2016 Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Julien, and Saint-Estèphe were made from extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. On the Right Bank, 2016 Pomerol and Saint-Émilion impress with their velvety texture and generosity. But 2016 red wine shines beyond Bordeaux, too: Rhône wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Hermitage, and Côte-Rôtie display exceptional finesse, while Burgundy wines from Vosne-Romanée, Puligny-Montrachet, and Nuits-Saint-Georges offer rarity and elegance. In the Loire, 2016 Sancerre, Chinon, and Vouvray round out the picture. A great 2016 wine stands out for its perfect balance, depth, and extraordinary aging potential.

Bordeaux 2016: Classic Grace and Modern Depth

In Bordeaux, the 2016 vintage has been unanimously hailed by critics as historic. Cabernet Sauvignon in the Médoc reached perfect phenolic ripeness: 2016 Pauillac shows exceptional density and tannic structure, 2016 Saint-Julien impresses with its remarkable consistency, and 2016 Margaux combines floral finesse with intensity. On the Right Bank, 2016 Pomerol and 2016 Saint-Émilion shine with their velvety texture and generosity. The Wine Advocate awarded no fewer than nine 100/100 scores to this vintage—a record that underscores its consistent excellence.

Château Mouton Rothschild 2016 has been described as “one of the most accomplished Moutons of recent decades,” with incomparable fragrance and power. Château Cheval Blanc 2016 approaches absolute perfection. Cos d’Estournel 2016 exceeds expectations in Saint-Estèphe: James Suckling awarded it 100/100 for its exceptionally alluring aromatic profile. Château Margaux 2016 perfectly exemplifies the vintage’s supreme elegance, with silky tannins and aromatic depth praised throughout the international press. Pétrus, Latour, Lafite, Haut-Brion, Angélus, and Figeac complete this exceptional lineup.

Burgundy 2016: A Rare Vintage, Concentrated and Vibrant Wines

In Burgundy, 2016 will be remembered for its small crop, caused by frost and hail. But quality is outstanding in the areas that were spared. The red wines of the Côte de Nuits are dense, structured, and fragrant: 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin is robust and refined, 2016 Vosne-Romanée is silky and captivating, and 2016 Chambolle-Musigny stands out for its delicacy. The 2016 white wines of the Côte de Beaune and Chablis impress with their purity and mineral tension.

Domaine Georges Roumier produced 2016 Bonnes Mares and Chambolle-Musigny wines of remarkable finesse and depth, rated 19/20 by Jancis Robinson—among the vintage’s most sought-after wines. Domaine Arnoux Lachaux emerged as Burgundy’s great revelation of 2016 with its Latricières Chambertin 2016, a wine of extraordinary concentration and elegance. Coche-Dury in Meursault, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Armand Rousseau, and Raveneau in Chablis round out Burgundy’s great successes of 2016.

Rhône Valley 2016: Sun-Drenched Intensity and Balance in an Outstanding Vintage

The 2016 Rhône vintage has been unanimously called the vintage of the century by Decanter, La Revue du Vin de France, and the international press. In the north, Syrah reached ideal phenolic ripeness: the 2016 Hermitages are deep, peppery, and full of vitality, while the 2016 Côte-Rôties combine lushness, dark fruit, and smoky notes with exceptionally fine tannins. In the south, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Papes are majestic, rich yet fresh, and remarkably drinkable.

Chapoutier produced two legendary bottles in 2016, L’Ermite and Le Pavillon Hermitage, both rated 100/100 by The Wine Advocate—Syrahs of immense concentration and incomparable mineral tension. Jean-Louis Chave produced a 2016 Hermitage that La Revue du Vin de France ranks among the finest bottles of his career, with rare depth and balance. In Côte-Rôtie, Guigal La Landonne, La Mouline, and La Turque stand as benchmarks for the appellation. Auguste Clape produced an exceptional 2016 Cornas, while Domaine Jamet Côte Brune 2016 confirms the extraordinary quality of the Northern Rhône. Clos des Papes and Beaucastel represent the Southern Rhône at its finest.

Champagne 2016: Precision and Elegance Built to Age

Champagne saw moderate yields in 2016, but the grapes were of high quality, particularly the Chardonnay. Decanter highlights the vintage’s precision and tension, qualities well suited to many years of aging. The great houses that waited before releasing their wines produced cuvées of remarkable purity.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2016 stands out as one of the vintage’s great cuvées: Jancis Robinson highlights its perfect balance between ripeness and mineral tension. Dom Pérignon 2016 combines richness and elegance with the house’s customary skill. Salon Blanc de Blancs 2016—which the house declares only in exceptional years—has incomparable mineral purity, according to the British press. Bollinger La Grande Année 2016 and Pascal Agrapart Vénus 2016 complete the lineup.

Loire and Languedoc 2016—Freshness, Purity, and an Expression of Terroir

In the Loire, the 2016 vintage shows superb freshness. The 2016 Sancerres stand out for their precise, saline Sauvignon Blancs; the 2016 Vouvrays display finely honed acidity and notes of white fruit; and the 2016 Chinon and Saumur-Champigny wines offer charming Cabernet Francs. Domaine Huet produced Le Mont and Clos du Bourg Vouvrays in 2016 with exemplary tension and purity, praised by La Revue du Vin de France as among the Loire’s finest wines. Clos Rougeard Les Poyeux 2016 remains the benchmark for Saumur-Champigny. In the Languedoc, Domaine de la Grange des Pères 2016, Peyre Rose 2016, and Clos des Fées 2016 showcase the character and authenticity of southern terroirs in this balanced vintage.

A 2016 Wine Makes an Excellent Gift

A 2016 wine makes the perfect gift for a 10th birthday. In 2026, the vintage turns 10: each bottle is a rare reminder of a year hailed as exceptional by critics worldwide. To compare vintages and identify 2016 bottles still at their peak, consult the SoDivin Vintage Guide.

Looking for a fine 2016 wine? Want to give a 2016 wine as a gift, or simply enjoy one yourself? Explore our unique cellar and find your bottle. A fine vintage wine makes an original, memorable gift. A wedding anniversary, the year you met, a gift for a colleague—there are so many occasions to mark with a vintage wine.

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