Pomerol Elegance Unleashed — Château Gombaude-Guillot 2016

Tasting Notes

In the glass: deep ruby-garnet with youthful glint.
On the nose: blackberry and dark plum, hints of violet and wild cherry, layered with cocoa, graphite, and slate-driven minerality thanks to those Pomerol gravel beds.
On the palate: polished yet powerful—rich Merlot fruit upfront, structure from Cabernet Franc, a backbone of fine, gripping tannins, a bright acid lift in the mid-palate, and a long finish with forest floor and iron-rich clay echoes. Drinking window: now through 2040+ with decent cellaring. 

Meet the Winemaker

Located on the Pomerol plateau in Bordeaux’s Right Bank, Château Gombaude-Guillot is a family-run estate (currently under Claire Laval) with approximately 7 hectares of vineyard planted on gravel-and-clay soils. They farm organically and lean into terroir-driven winemaking, harvesting by hand, using natural yeasts, and aiming for wines that reflect site not hype.

Wine Specs

• Varietal: ~85% Merlot / ~15% Cabernet Franc 

• Vintage: 2016

• Region: Pomerol AOC, Bordeaux, France

• Aging / Vinification: Natural fermentation (in temperature-controlled concrete / stainless), aged in Allier barrels (approx 50% new oak in some references) 

• ABV: 14%

• Bottle Size: 1500 ml

• Serving Temp: 16-18 °C — let it breathe, show up.

Critic Reviews

• James Suckling: “The sweet and fragrant fruit sucks you into this lush but well-structured wine galaxy.”

• Vert de Vin: 93/100 — “Elegant, fruity with fleshy blackberry, small blue fruits and cassis… fine grain of tannin.” 

• Great Bordeaux Wines: 94 pts — “Another wine with a beautifully aromatic nose… splendid acidity, balance and long finish.”

Food Pairings

• Dry-aged rib-eye with herb compound butter — fruit and tannin alignment

• Lamb rack with rosemary & garlic crust — regional symmetry

• Porcini-mushroom risotto topped with shaved black truffle — class meets depth

• A selection of aged cheeses (Comté >18 m, aged Gouda) plus fig jam — texture & savour

• Game birds (pigeon, quail) with reduced berry-sauce — finesse with power

Why You Need This Bottle

Because you’re not just drinking wine — you’re investing in character, region, and maturity. This is Pomerol playing the long game: finesse and structure, right-bank plushness without being overblown. Pull it when you want to look like you know your Bordeaux, not just bought a label.

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Let’s raise the bar on what “Bordeaux red” means.