Wine Spectator (96)

This features a core of ripe, sweet plum, blackberry and spice flavors, accented by earth, wild herbs and tobacco. Though dense and muscular, there's also a beam of vibrant acidity that keeps this focused and fresh. Best from 2023 through 2042. 1,000 cases made, 100 cases imported.

Falstaff (96)

Clear ruby. Charming nose with rich notes of ripe plums, some cranberry and wild raspberry, liquorice in the background. Characterised on the palate by grippy, gripping tannin, hearty, fine ripe fruit, seems a bit rough on the finish.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine for readers who want to get a good sense of the Salvioni house style. Powerful and virile, with tons of personality, the 2016 is terrific. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco, licorice and menthol wrap around a core of dark Sangiovese fruit in this brooding, intense Rosso from the Salvioni family. The savory qualities of Sangiovese come through beautifully here. This is such a gorgeous Rosso.

Vinous (95)

Deep, dark red fruits and exotic spices give way to hints of menthol, flowery undergrowth and tobacco as the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte unfolds in the glass. It’s silky-smooth and cool-toned with ripe woodland berries, hints of clove and blood orange. Fine tannins coat the palate, but energy remains high due to vibrant acidity, as this tapers off with a salty, almost silty minerality under rosy inner florals. The 2016 spent only six months in second-pass barriques before being completed in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak for another 40 months. Retasting this wine with another year of bottle age was a total pleasure.

Wine Advocate (94+)

This wine is showing exceptionally well in this classic vintage. The 2016 Guidalberto (Cabernet Sauvignon and a smaller percentage of Merlot) opens to a full and generous bouquet and a beautifully rich and velvety appearance. This edition of Tenuta San Guido's mid-level wine offers a bigger aromatic profile, more texture and more volume as well. Dark cherry and blackberry segue to spice, tar, leather and sweet fruit at the end. The mouthfeel is elegantly shaped, silky and nuanced. This may well be the best vintage of Guidalberto I have yet to taste—and you can get this wine at a great price too.

Vinous (96)

Another year in bottle has added unexpected depths and dimension to the 2016 San Leonardo. It wafts up with an alluring bouquet of smoky black currant and plum skins, complicated by savory herbs, hints of white pepper and fresh tobacco. It's hard chiseled edges have formed into smooth contours now, velvety yet youthfully dense, washing mineral encased dark red and black berries across a core of brisk acidity as a combination of saline-minerals and grippy tannins add tension toward the close. This finishes incredibly long yet also structured, begging for time in the cellar, as hints of licorice and earth tones grumble under an air of inner violet florals. The potential within the 2016 San Leonardo is off the charts, yet it will require a good amount of time to come fully into focus. Bury your bottles deep.

James Suckling (97)

Attractive aromas of cherry, dark mushroom, bark and walnut follow through to a full body with lots of ripe cherry and berry character in the center palate. Firm, chewy tannins draw you down the palate. Extremely long. From organically grown grapes. Better than the superb 2015? Drink after 2023 and onwards.

James Suckling (98)

Wow. This is really complex on the nose with black cherries, mushrooms, dried flowers and cedar. Some crushed stone and dry earth or tile. This is full-bodied and very layered with wonderful depth of fruit and creamy tannins. It’s focused and serene. Better than 2015. From organically grown grapes. Try in 2024 and onwards.

James Suckling (98)

The purity and polish here shows wonderfully the moment you stick your nose in the glass, with complex aromas of plums, berries, cedar and violets. It’s full-bodied and ever so refined with elegant and intense tannins that take you deep into the wine. This is a thoughtful and finely crafted Brunello that needs time to show you its greatness. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2024.

James Suckling (97)

A rich, layered red with blackberry and chocolate, as well as cured-meat and wet-earth undertones. It’s full-bodied with depth, intensity and focus. Lovely, velvety tannins and a long, creamy-textured mouth feel. Generous finish with tension. Better than 2015. Try after 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

An estate that has been firing on all cylinders recently, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Sansonnet sports a saturated ruby color as well as a beautiful bouquet of macerated black cherries, blackcurrants, smoked earth, spice, and tobacco. This ripe, sexy, full-bodied beauty has terrific overall balance, a layered texture, no hard edges, and a beautiful finish. It's a gem in the vintage and is well worth a case purchase. The blend is 90% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, all brought up in 80% new French oak. Don’t miss this brilliant wine.

Experience the graceful allure of the Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016. Masterfully crafted in the heart of Piedmont, Italy, this vintage red boasts a disciplined structure thanks to the region's cool climate and strict harvesting laws. With ageworthy finesse, Sara Vezza's traditionalist approach ensures the full expression of Nebbiolo in each bottle. The integrity of old-world winemaking runs deep in the Vezza family, cultivating a product steeped in authenticity.

The Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016 presents an elegant tapestry of dried roses, crushed minerals and ripe red fruits forming a beautifully complex palate. Harmoniously balanced and well-integrated tannins invite a long, lingering finish. While ideal for decanting, its unflinching quality and potential for cellar ageing renders it a prominent contender for any discerning collector.

Whether indulged now or stored for a special occasion, the Sara Vezza Barolo Ravera 2016 promises a captivating journey through Italy's quintessential wine heritage.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2016 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is another wine I love. It is an exceptional wine from one of the best vintages in Tuscany in the last decade. 2016 was a cooler and more classic vintage than 2015 and one can almost sense more freshness, comfort and ease for the vine in the natural harmony of this wine. The wine has vibrancy, a mouth-watering freshness and a beautiful natural grace. The nose is bright and clear with very precisely delineated aromas of wild flowers, meadow grass, violet, rose and cassis. The 2016 is looking stunning, with a wonderful texture and flow, yet a twist of nervosity and energy too. Drinking now but it needs maybe 5 years to begin to show its best.

James Suckling (98)

Aromas are lifted and bright in this wine with loads of blackberries and blueberries. Full body, velvety tannins. Gorgeous texture. Very pure fruit. A bright and more fundamental Seña than last vintages. Restrained at the end. 55% cabernet, 20% malbec, 12% petit verdot, 8% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc. September 2018 release. Needs three or four years of bottle age.

James Suckling (99)

Gorgeous floral and deep, dark berry aromas with hints of spices such as cinnamon and hazelnuts. Full body and ultra-fine and strong tannins that are powerful yet so sleek and beautiful. Fantastic length and texture. Deep, dark and profound. Takes you on a long journey and shows you its true character. Better in 2025. Give it time.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Pure perfection, the prodigious 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select reveals an even deeper purple/blue hue as well as extraordinary notes of unsmoked tobacco, crushed rocks, graphite, crème de cassis, and blueberries. With a massive, full-bodied profile and a texture that builds incrementally on the palate, it has a stacked mid-palate, ultra-fine (yet lots of them) tannins, flawless balance, and a monster of a finish. It’s tight and closed at the moment, so hide bottles for a solid 7-8 years. It should age at a glacier pace.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Sijnn is one of the most amazing new terroirs in the Cape, producing wines of remarkable individuality. This Rhône meets Bordeaux meets the Douro Valley blend, made with grapes grown just 15 kilometres from the sea, is stony, complex and intensely aromatic, showing lavender and wild thyme avours, grippy tannins and layered, mineral intense fruit. Superb stuff . 2021-35

Take pleasure in the Silvia Barbaglia Boca 2016, a stunning embodiment of classic Italian winemaking prowess exhibited by renowned vintner Silvia Barbaglia. Born of the historic vineyards of Piedmont, this captivating Nebbiolo blend delivers an unrivalled tasting experience. The wine draws its distinctive character from the Boca DOC, bestowing upon it a robust, complex profile.

Meticulously crafted, Barbaglia deftly coaxes sublime flavours from hand-harvested Vespolina and Uva Rara grapes. The grapes are then aged in large oak barrels, infusing the wine with an enticing blend of earthiness and spice. The result? A captivating, full-bodied drink with intriguing layers of black cherry and raspberry, underscored by notes of anise and clove.

An unwavering devotee of traditional techniques, Barbaglia insists on limited intervention, allowing the terroir to articulate its authentic confession. Each bottle of the Silvia Barbaglia Boca 2016 promises to be a testament to this philosophy, making it an essential addition to any discerning wine connoisseur's collection.

James Suckling (97)

This is really beautiful with black cherries, porcini mushrooms, black walnuts and dried flowers on the nose. It’s full-bodied, yet very toned and tight with class and precision. Wonderful length and focus. Goes on for minutes. What a wine from here. Best ever? Try after 2025.

James Suckling (97)

Such wonderful opulence and beauty. The nose shows dried flowers and minerals with blackberries and black cherries. Purity is the word. Full-bodied with incredible depth and structure and polished, silky tannins that envelop your palate. The length is really impressive. Try after 2025.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

The 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte is flat out stunning. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous energy and tension to play off the wine's dark, rich fruit. I am not sure I have ever tasted a young Smith Haut Lafitte with such extraordinary balance. In 2016, the Grand Vin is tense and pulsing with energy. Hints of lavender, spice, menthol and crème de cassis open up in the glass, but the 2016 stands out for its feel and exceptional harmony. The combined effects of picking a bit early, vinifiying more gently and reducing the impact of oak are having a profound effect at Smith Haut Lafitte. Thinking of some of the highly regarded wines of the last decade here, the 2009 and 2010 in particular, well, the 2016 is on another level. This is magnificent showing from proprietors Florence and Daniel Cathiard, and their team led by Technical Director Fabien Teitgen.

Vinous (88)

The 2016 Barbaresco from Socré is a powerful, virile wine. Black cherry, dried herbs, menthol, licorice, sage, leather and cedar infuse this potent Barbaresco with a good bit of character. The 2016 offers plenty of breath and power, but the balance is dominated by the tannins at this stage. I am not sure bottle age will make a meaningful difference.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Barbaresco Roncaglie is loaded with black cherry, plum, tobacco, sage, licorice, smoke and menthol flavors. A potent, strapping wine, the 2016 has plenty to offer. I would cellar it for a few years to allow the tannins to soften a bit. There is a lot of substance here.

Wine Advocate (100)

I fussed over scoring this wine more than I'd like to admit—tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing my impressions blind against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, I tasted this 2016 vintage against the 2015 vintage over and over again. I confess to a few nights of restless sleep as a result. Ultimately, my decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came on impulse and with the most natural sense of purpose. I had also given the 2015 vintage a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite among these two stunning expressions. I will also state, outright, that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness that extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting that the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. I feel like 2015 is the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation and the 2016 is the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet my admiration for each is identical.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Glorious! Such life and length. Notably aromatic. Superb. Just a perfect, vibrant expression of what this estate can deliver: precision, fruit, freshness and a uniquely transparent expression of ripe, southern Tuscan Sangiovese.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has shut down slightly since I tasted it last year, yet it’s still a magical, perfect wine. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, it offers incredible notes of pure crème de cassis, blueberries, camphor, crushed rocks, and lead pencil shavings. This rich, full-bodied beauty always reminds me of a great vintage of Château Margaux with its beautiful complexity, power, and elegance. As I wrote last year, do your best to give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it should evolve for three decades or more.

Vinous (95+)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 is powerful and savory in the glass, with tons of both aromatic nuance and supporting structure that give the wine gravitas as well as a very clear sense of direction. The plum, blackberry jam, grilled herb, lavender and dark spice notes are all very finely drawn in this big but polished Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.