Bettane & Desseauve 89 / 100 by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017 Nez vraiment épanoui, fruité et floral, bouche souple, facile, charnue, énergique.
Wine Advocate / byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017 The 2016 La Bridane offers simple black fruit on the nose with a light fish oil scent. There is freshness here and that also comes through on the palate. However, the tannins feel rather dry and that finish is austere, leaving the mouth asking for more flesh and fruit.
Decanter.com 87 / 100 byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017 Bruno Saintout owns this small St-Julien estate, with a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot -an unusual blend in an appellation with over 90% Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This is a little tight, with dominant vanilla on the nose which quickly softens to offer some classic old-school St-Julien with sappy red fruits with curls of liquorice root held by slightly austere tannins. A great lunchtime claret for medium term drinking. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038
Jancis Robinson 16 / 20 byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017 Dark blackish ruby. Sweet, evolved nose. This seems much less callow than most 2016s. Very winning already but not very obviously St-Julien; less structured. You have to look carefully for the tannins. Big ripe fruit. Maybe just a bit too smooth and low in acid...?
Jamessuckling.com 92-93 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017 Blackberry and dark-chocolate character. Medium body and chewy tannins. A solid and structured wine here. Much better than the 2015.