2016 Chateau Barde-Haut St.-Emilion Grand Cru 750 ml

The Garcin-Lévêque family is not in the business of singles and doubles. They swing for the fences every year, sparing no expense to elicit greatness from their three prime Right Bank estates.

In 2016, they put in a Reggie Jackson-esque performance, belting two out of the park: Their $160 Clos l’Église earned a 95-point score from Vinous founder Antonio Galloni. But the one that hit the upper deck? That was their 96-point Château Barde-Haut.

Grown on priceless St.-Émilion terroir right next door to $180 icon Troplong Mondot, Barde-Haut’s crack winemaking team captured a near-perfect vintage in a bottle that absolutely blew us away with its opulence. Galloni called it “flat-out delicious” in his 96-point review. Jeb Dunnuck, who crowned it with 95+ points, hailed it as one of the best ever made at the winery. 

You can put three bottles of Barde-Haut in your cellar for the price of a single bottle of Clos l’Église.

The wine opens to enveloping aromas of roasted plums, bittersweet chocolate, ripe cherries, Château Barde-Haut’s vineyards sit on some of the most desirable land in Bordeaux. Perched high on the St-Émilion plateau, they’re surrounded by $100+ names, including Pavie Macquin, Trotte Vieille, and their eminently collectible neighbor, Troplong Mondot. The unique mixture of limestone and clay in this spot is perfect for growing opulent Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Eventually, the wine is put down to rest in 80% new French oak for 18 months, perfect for adding a final polishing touch.