2016 Bordeaux: 3 Classified Growths I’d Buy Again Today

One of the biggest mistakes Bordeaux collectors make is assuming they have missed the opportunity to buy a great vintage. I don't think that's true. In fact, if I were rebuilding my cellar today, I would still be buying 2016 Bordeaux. Not every chateau, but there are three classified rows I would happily buy again at today's prices. The 2016 Bordeaux Vintage is a modern classic, consistently superb across the region, with moderate alcohol, remarkable freshness, and the structure to age for decades. Unlike the legendary 2010 Vintage, whose prices rose dramatically through speculation, many 2016s have remained surprisingly sensible. When the Ys were released, I bought more than 20 different 2016 classified rows from many of my favorite Bordeaux estates. Nearly a decade later, I'm beginning to restock. Not because I've run out, but because these wines have reached exactly the stage of maturity I enjoy sharing around the dinner table with family and friends. For me, the three bottles I would happily buy again today are Chateau Malisco Saint-Exupéry from Margaux, Chateau Rosan-Ceglat from Margaux, and Chateau Léoville-Pofféré from Saint-Julien. All three are currently priced at roughly the same level as the 2020 Vintage. The difference is that the 2016s are already beginning to show their full character, while many 2020s still need another five to eight years in the cellar. To me, that's where the opportunity lies. Not because these are necessarily the greatest wines in my 2016 cellar, but because at today's prices, they offer something collectors rarely find. Outstanding quality, ready to bring maturity, and genuine value. I will also tell you about several famous 2016s that I wouldn't buy again today. Not because they are not magnificent wines, but because I believe their prices have moved well beyond the value they offer. And before we begin, while you are still discovering your own preferences, buy three or six bottles rather than a full case of 12. A cellar should evolve alongside your taste. The 2016 Vintage. Before we look at the wines themselves, it's worth understanding why I believe 2016 remains one of Bordeaux's greatest buying opportunities today. The growing season was almost textbook. A wet, mild winter and spring replenished the water reserves, before long, dry summer forced the vines to dig deep, rewarding older vineyards with remarkable concentration. Then came the turning point. Timely rain in mid-September, followed by cool nights, allowed the grapes to reach exceptional phenolic ripeness, while preserving freshness and balance. The result is a vintage that combines richness with precision. On the left bank, Cabernet Sauvignon reached extraordinary levels of quality, producing wines with tremendous structure, bright acidity, and remarkable purity. On the right bank, Melot delivered wines that are generous, elegant, and beautifully textured, without sacrificing freshness. How does 2016 compare with the other great Bordeaux vintages now entering maturity? Compared with 2010, both are built for the long term, but 2010 is denser, more tannic, and more powerful. 2016 offers a similarly impressive structure, yet with softer textures and early approachability. Compared with 2015, the differences are even clearer. The warmer 2015 vintage produced broader, richer wines that were approachable much earlier. By contrast, 2016 is more restrained and more classical in style, favoring balance, freshness, and precision over sheer richness. For me, that's exactly what makes it such an attractive vintage to buy today. Now, let's get into the wines. 2016 Margot Chateau Malusco Saint-Exupéry. Few estates have improved as consistently over the past 15 years as Chateau Malusco Saint-Exupéry. Under Jean-Luc Zuger's leadership, the estate has quietly established itself as one of Margot's finest performing third growths, producing wines that frequently compete with estates ranked well above it. The nose is wonderfully expressive, combining ripe, red, and dark berries with cedar, smoke, graphite, and delicate floral notes. The palate is concentrated, yet beautifully poised, delivering remarkable depth and freshness with polished tannins that keep its richness effortlessly under control. What impresses me most is not the wine's power, but its confidence. This is a Malusco that no longer relies on sheer muscle. Instead, it has become refined, composed, and remarkably complete. To me, Jean-Luc Zuger has crafted one of the finest wines in the estate's history. At around 75 US dollars, I think it's one of the greatest bargains in the entire 2016 vintage, and a bottle I would happily continue buying for many years to come. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Valois. Current market price is around 75 US dollars. Since the Wertheimer family acquired the estate through Chanel, Chateau Rosanseglas has steadily re-established itself among Bordeaux's elite. Under Nicolas Oudbert, the wines have become increasingly refined, combining Margot's natural elegance with impressive precision and consistency. The nose is beautifully perfumed, offering red and dark berries, black tea, licorice, and delicate floral notes. The palate is taut, graceful, and beautifully controlled, combining freshness, depth, and remarkable finesse in a style that consistently favors precision over power. This was only Nicolas Oudbert's second vintage at the estate, yet it already hinted at the remarkable run of form that would follow. Today, I think it stands among Rosanseglas' finest recent vintages. At roughly 125 US dollars, I find it surprisingly difficult to resist. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 2% Petit Valois. 2016, Saint-Julien, Chateau, Léoville, Poitferry. Few estates have transformed their reputation as dramatically as Chateau, Léoville, Poitferry. Much of that success can be credited to Didier Cuvelier, who led the estate from 1979 to 2018 and helped establish it among the Medoc's very best. The nose is rich and expressive, combining ripe dark fruit with cedar, violets, and subtle earthy notes. The palate is generous, yet beautifully balanced, layering concentrated dark fruit over polished tannins and vibrant freshness that carries through a long effortless finish. What has always impressed me about Léoville Poitferry is its confidence. It doesn't try to imitate the more classical style of some Saint-Julien neighbors. Instead, it embraces richness and generosity without ever sacrificing balance. To me, Didier Cuvelier produced one of the outstanding wines of the 2016 vintage. At around 130 US dollars, I think it remains exceptional value for a mature second world of this caliber and a bottle I would happily continue buying. The blend is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Petit Valois, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The current market price is around 130 US dollars. The wines I wouldn't buy again. Now comes the part that may surprise some collectors. There are several 2016 Bordeaux that I think are unquestionably magnificent wines. Yet, I wouldn't buy them again today. Not because they have disappointed me, quite the opposite. They have brought me enormous pleasure over the years. The problem isn't the wine, it's the price. Today, you will often pay around 550 US dollars for La Mission Au Brignon 2016, 405 US dollars for Vieux Château Sertan 2016, 300 US dollars for La Concillante 2016, and 300 dollars for L'Évangile 2016. I was fortunate enough to buy these wines on release when they represented much better value. However, if I were rebuilding my cellar today, I couldn't justify paying those prices. In fact, I would rather buy their 2015 counterparts. In Pomerol and Pesac L'Oignon, I actually think 2015 is every bit as compelling and today, paradoxically, often sells for less. That's exactly why I believe collectors should always separate quality from value. They are not the same thing. My verdict. Is 2016 still worth buying today? Absolutely. In fact, I think it's one of the safest Natura Bordeaux vintages currently available. Compared with the vintages that followed, it still occupies a particularly attractive place in the market. Compared with 2018, the wines are generally fresher, more restrained, and more transparently expressive of their terroir. Compared with 2019, both vintages are outstanding, although some 2019s may eventually edge ahead through even greater harmony and consistency across the region. Compared with 2020, whose wines remain youthful and still need time in the cellar, the best 2016s are already entering a wonderfully satisfying stage of maturity. But there is one important lesson. Buying every 2016 because it's 2016 would be a mistake. I've been buying Bordeaux for more than 30 years. One lesson has never changed. Value is never determined by reputation alone. It's determined by the relationship between quality, maturity, and price. That's why, if I was spending my own money today, I would happily buy Malescaux Saint-Exupéry, Rois-en-Ceglar, and Léoville Poivre 2016 again, before reaching for several far more famous labels already sitting in my cellar. One of the biggest mistakes collectors make is believing that the best-known wine automatically represents the best buy. In my experience, that's rarely true. The greatest opportunities often appear after excitement has failed, when outstanding wines have matured, but sensible prices still remain. For me, that's exactly where the 2016 Bordeaux Vintage sits today. If you have tried any of these wines, or if there are other 2016 Bordeaux you think deserve a place on this list, I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts in the section below. You will find more of my cellar insights and tasting notes on Instagram. Massive thanks for watching today, and I will see you in the next one.