Wines Médoc Château S Tourelles - 2016

Viniou Reviews

Château S Tourelles 2016 is a red wine classified as a Cru Bourgeois from the renowned Médoc appellation in Bordeaux, France. The wine is typically composed of classic Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, with likely smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and possibly Petit Verdot. The 2016 vintage is widely considered exceptional in Bordeaux, offering wines of impressive structure, purity of fruit, and ageing potential thanks to near-perfect growing conditions throughout the season. The estate’s winemaking approach will emphasise careful extraction, extended maceration, and maturation in French oak barrels, providing additional aromatic complexity and supple tannins.

The Médoc region lies on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. The area benefits from a temperate oceanic climate moderated by the proximity of the river and the Atlantic, protecting the vines from frost and excessive heat. The soils are predominantly gravelly, allowing excellent drainage and encouraging vine roots to delve deep for nutrients, which results in wines of depth and minerality. Bordeaux’s history is steeped in centuries of winemaking tradition, with the Médoc becoming world-famous in the 18th and 19th centuries for its grand estates and gravelly terroirs, giving rise to wines of exceptional ageing potential and global repute.

For food pairings, Château S Tourelles 2016 shows its best alongside red meats such as roast lamb or grilled entrecôte, which harmonise with the wine’s structure and tannins. Traditional regional dishes, such as magret de canard or a classic Bordeaux-style entrecôte à la bordelaise, complement the wine’s dark fruit core and subtle oak notes. Earthy mushroom-based dishes or hard cheeses like aged Comté can also create a lovely pairing.

To best appreciate this wine, allow some aeration by opening the bottle or decanting it an hour before serving, which will help open up its complex bouquet. Serve at a temperature of 16-18°C. If cellared properly, this 2016 vintage can be enjoyed now for its expressive fruit or kept a few more years for greater tertiary evolution.