2016 | Château Lanessan | Haut-Médoc | France

Eight generations of the Bouteiller family — classic, ageworthy Haut-Médoc from a strong 2016 vintage, drinking beautifully.

Château Lanessan has belonged to the Bouteiller family since the 18th century — eight generations on gravelly soils near the St-Julien border. A traditional Left Bank blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Petit Verdot, it's the archetypal cru bourgeois-level Médoc: structured, cedar-scented, built to age 7–20 years. Tasters call 2016 one of Lanessan's best.

A traditional Cabernet-led Médoc with a decade of aging behind it is smart, classic Bordeaux buying. Cabernet-dominant, gravel soils, 2016 pedigree → already drinking beautifully with more to give → at $37.99 you're pouring mature, family-estate Médoc.

• ~60% Cabernet Sauvignon, ~35% Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc
• Haut-Médoc — Bordeaux, France
• Château Lanessan — Bouteiller family, eight generations
• Strong 2016 vintage, drinking well now

Cassis, lead pencil and fresh rose petal over a full body with round, chewy tannins, dark chocolate and a long finish. Translation: textbook Left Bank claret — dark fruit, cigar-box and graphite with fleshy tannin and real length. Ready now, good to 2035.

Classic family-estate Médoc from a top recent vintage. Exactly the bottle for a Sunday roast of beef or lamb.