CHATEAU HAUT SIMARD SAINT EMILION 2016

CHÂTEAU HAUT-SIMARD SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU 2016

Style Summary

A beautifully mature Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from the Vauthier family, owners of the legendary Château Ausone.

The outstanding 2016 vintage combines ripe blackberry, cassis and plum with violet, spice, graphite and developing notes of truffle and leather. Rich enough to deliver classic Right Bank depth, yet distinguished by freshness, fine tannins and an elegant mineral character.

Now entering an excellent stage of maturity, this sophisticated Bordeaux offers both immediate drinking pleasure and further potential in the cellar.

Region / Grape / Style

Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC
Vintage: 2016
Producer: Château Haut-Simard
Blend: 65% Merlot · 35% Cabernet Franc
Style: Dry Red Bordeaux

Château Haut-Simard

Château Haut-Simard is situated just south of the historic village of Saint-Émilion and has been under the direction of the Vauthier family since 2008.

The Vauthiers are best known as the family behind Château Ausone, and their stewardship brought significant investment and renewed attention to Haut-Simard.

The vineyard sits at the foot of the Saint-Émilion slopes, where limestone, sand and clay combine to produce wines with depth, freshness and a distinctive mineral character.

The 2016 Vintage

The 2016 is an especially successful vintage for Haut-Simard.

Merlot provides ripe, generous dark fruit and a supple texture, while the substantial proportion of Cabernet Franc contributes violet perfume, freshness and structural definition.

The wine matured for about 12 months, with around 30% new oak, adding complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Blackberry, cassis and ripe plum with violet, graphite, spice and subtle notes of truffle and leather.

Palate:
Rich and beautifully composed, with ripe dark fruit framed by fresh acidity and fine, polished tannins. Savory and mineral notes emerge with air, adding complexity to the generous fruit.

Structure:
Medium to full-bodied, concentrated yet elegant, with beautifully integrated tannins and excellent freshness.

Finish:
Long and refined, with lingering blackberry, violet, spice, mineral, and subtle earthy notes.

Summary

Château Haut-Simard Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 combines an excellent Bordeaux vintage with the precision and experience of the Vauthier family.

Now with a decade of bottle age, the wine is beginning to show the complexity that makes mature Saint-Émilion so compelling while retaining plenty of fruit and freshness.

An excellent opportunity to enjoy maturing Bordeaux without waiting another decade.

Blackberry · Cassis · Plum · Violet · Graphite · Spice · Truffle · Leather

Drinking Window

Drink: Now–2038
Preferred Window: Now–2034

The 2016 is drinking beautifully now.

At ten years of age, the tannins have softened considerably, and the primary blackberry and cassis fruit is beginning to integrate with more complex notes of earth, truffle, leather and spice.

There is no urgency to drink it, however. Well-stored bottles have enough fruit, acidity, and structure to keep developing through the 2030s.

If opening now, let it breathe for about 45–60 minutes in the glass or decanter.

With further bottle age, expect:

Dried Blackberry · Violet · Tobacco · Cedar · Leather · Forest Floor · Truffle

Serving Temperature: 16–18°C

Food Pairing

Recommended Pairings:
Beef Tenderloin · Ribeye · Roast Lamb · Duck Breast · Beef Wellington · Braised Short Rib · Venison · Porcini Mushrooms · Black Truffle · Aged Comté

The Tasting Room Recommendation

A particularly attractive choice for customers looking for mature Saint-Émilion with excellent provenance and pedigree.

The connection to the Vauthier family of Château Ausone, combined with the outstanding 2016 vintage and ten years of bottle development, makes Haut-Simard a compelling Bordeaux to enjoy today.

Pair with beef tenderloin, roast lamb, Beef Wellington, or braised short rib.

Serve at approximately 17°C in a Bordeaux glass, ideally after around 45 minutes of aeration.