Tasting Notes
Antonio Galloni 88-91
The 2016 Quinault L’Enclos is soft, gentle and inviting. Succulent red cherry, plum, rose petal and spice accents give the wine a lovely sense of floral lift. The Cabernet Franc is quite expressive at this early stage. Silky tannins add to an overall impression of grace and finesse.
Neal Martin 91
The 2016 Quinault L’Enclos continues the estate’s policy of increasing the Cabernet Sauvignon (now at 20%). It has a refined bouquet with graphite and light cedar aromas emanating from that Cabernet, the oak taking a backseat since it is entirely aged in 500-liter barrels. The classically styled palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and a fresh line of acidity. The precise yet not powerful finish prioritizes detail over length and grip. Enjoy over the next 12 to 15 years.
Anticipated maturity: 2021-2035
Wine Advocate 92
The 2016 Quinault l’Enclos is a blend of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 68% Merlot, continuing the team’s program of increasing the proportion of Cabernet, picked from 20 September and finishing on 7 October. It is matured in 50% new oak (500-liter barrels) and one-year-old barrels. It has a very pure bouquet with macerated black cherries, a touch of blueberry, a subtle flinty note just tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin on the entry. This feels very fresh and lively in the mouth, perhaps a little more compact than others I tasted, although that is probably because it had been taken from barrel less than an hour before my visit. It is very precise on the brisk, punctual graphite-tinged finish, an almost clinical Quinault l’Enclos that will benefit from five or six year aging in bottle.
Anticipated maturity: 2023-2045
