2016 Château Potensac - Médoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE. 2015. 750ml
94 points James Suckling
Suave aromas of cedar and fresh red flowers with a thread of ripe red berries and blackcurrants, mulberries, coal smoke and cool stones. The palate delivers a wealth of rich red-fruit flavors, framed in sleek tannins that build with precision and length. A class act. One of the best from here in the modern era. Try from 2023. (2/2019)
92 points Vinous
The 2016 Potensac is a huge overachiever. Succulent black cherry, plum, spice, leather, licorice and lavender flesh out in this striking, deeply flavored Médoc. Inky, racy and super-expressive, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total seduction. Jean-Hubert Delon's entire portfolio is impressive in 2016, but the wines from Potensac are especially of note. (AG) (1/2019)
90-92 points Wine Enthusiast
With its fine tannins and ripe fruit aromas and flavors, this wine brings out all the elements of the vintage: great structure and great fruit. It's not a powerful wine, but is stylish and likely to be ready to drink within 10 years. (RV) (4/2017)
91 points Jeb Dunnuck
Another sleeper is the 2016 Château de Potensac, which is 44% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all aged 14 months in 30% new French oak. This beauty is upfront and ready to go, with a dark, rich bouquet of currants, unsmoked tobacco, graphite, and earth. With beautiful concentration and a layered, elegant texture, it’s one of those wines that has ample upfront appeal yet will keep for 15+ years. (2/2019)
90 points Decanter
This is such classic Médoc - the freshness is clear, perfectly underpinning the crunchy red and black berry fruits. It's super-seductive and easy to drink despite being closed right now, as you would expect at this stage, but the weight of tannins suggests that it will open back up fairly swiftly, and a second bottle I tasted was even more juicy. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. (JA) (10/2018)
90 points Wine Advocate
Blended of 44% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Potensac features chocolate box and Sichuan pepper scents with a core of cassis, warm blackberries, kirsch and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, it has a great core of expressive black fruits, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a red fruit lift. (LPB) (11/2018)
Wine Spectator
Open-knit, with a mix of bramble, sweet tobacco and steeped red and black currant fruit flavors. A lightly roasted apple wood note and a flash of iron check in on the finish, adding spine. Drink now through 2029. (JM, Web-2019)