The 2016 Grand-Corbin-Despagne was one of the few Saint Emilion Grand Crus that I felt showed a little too much fruit on the nose, felt a little blowsy. The palate is sweet and generous, fleshy and smooth with firm grip, although it does not deliver the complexity and nuance of its peers on the finish. Not a bad Saint Emilion at all, but this is 2016. Let's see if it improves in bottle and matches the fine 2014 and 2015s from this property.

Very polished in feel, with layers of blueberry and raspberry puree gliding along, inlaid with sweet spice, black tea and melted black licorice. Almost too easy, but the fruit is hard resist.