Bordeaux 2016: Rothschild estates lead Suckling’s scores

The 2016 wines of Mouton and Lafite Rothschild have both received 100-point ratings from US critic James Suckling’s first set of scores with the latter compared to the “legendary” 1959.

The “phenomenal” and “muscular” 2016 Mouton Rothschild is one of James Suckling’s wines of the vintage

Always quick off the mark, Suckling released the first set of his scores for the 2016 vintage at the end of last week with a very slight increase in the average score over the 2015s.

Suckling declared the 2016s “exceptional” and “equal to the exquisite 2015” although he added he was, “not sure which vintage is better at this stage.”

His scores so far would seem to suggest a slight preference for the ‘16s. Liv-ex has taken 45 of the scores so far – from wines that feature in its ‘En primeur Price Guide’ – and worked out that the 2016 group has been scored 96.3 points on average versus 95.5 points for the same group in 2015.

Suckling called the 2016 Mouton the new 1986 “but better”, while the Lafite was, “even stronger and more toned than the excellent 2015. […] Perhaps the greatest Lafite since the legendary 1959?”

Aside from the two first growths with their emphatic 100-points, other top wines include Palmer and Conseillante, both with a 99-100 point span, and Latour, Lynch-Bages, Léoville-Las-Caes, Pichon Baron, Margaux and Pontet-Canet, which are all part of a large group scored 98-99.

The en primeur tastings proper begin in early April and will be covered in full by the drinks business.

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