James Suckling: Love the stone, tar and black currant in this. Full and tight with firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Spicy, too. Can’t wait to see how this evolves. Serious.
Neal Martin: The 2016 Capbern (the erstwhile "Château Capbern-Gasqueton") is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, delivering around 14% alcohol with a total acidity of 3.5 grams per liter. It was cropped at 42 hectoliters per hectare and is being matured in 60% new French oak. It has a clean and precise bouquet with blackberry, mint and just a hint of boot polish. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin; this is a typical Saint-Estèphe in terms of a bold, almost Montrose-like tannic structure, gently grippy with more than enough freshness on the pert finish. There is a lovely touch of cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. Give this three or four years in bottle as this is a fine Château Capbern.