2016 Château Sénéjac Haut-Médoc

Tasting notes

Château Sénéjac 2016 displays a deep red color with garnet highlights. The initial nose is very expressive and precise, revealing notes of black cherries and blackberries. With aeration, the bouquet fully opens, showing complex red fruit aromas combined with subtle vanilla and toasted notes from oak ageing.

On the palate, the wine is dense and opulent. The texture is remarkably precise, supported by high-quality tannins and carefully controlled extraction during vinification. Powerful yet refined, Sénéjac 2016 offers excellent length, with silky, well-integrated tannins.

This vintage ranks among the finest produced by the estate. Combining concentration and generosity, it clearly demonstrates outstanding ageing potential.

Vintage Notes

The winter of 2015–2016 was particularly wet, with more than 150 mm of rainfall recorded in both January and February 2016. Budbreak progressed well despite a frost episode on April 26, which resulted in several hundred vines being affected by frost.

The growing season was divided into two very distinct phases. The first, marked by significantly above-average rainfall (+20%) in May and June, made vineyard management particularly challenging.

The second phase extended from July to mid-September and was characterized by very low rainfall (less than 30 mm over the period), leading to significant water stress. Grape ripening fully resumed following a storm on September 13, which brought 40 mm of rain.

Harvest began on October 3 with the Merlot parcels and concluded on October 19 with the latest-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to the Indian summer conditions in October, grapes were harvested without pressure, parcel by parcel, allowing the team to wait for optimal ripeness.

Viticulture

The vineyards of Château Sénéjac extend across a plateau overlooking the commune of Le Pian-Médoc. Formerly a barony, the estate was first owned by Nicolas de Bloys in the 16th century and boasts a long and distinguished history.

In 1999, a new chapter began when the property was acquired by Lorraine Cordier, also the owner of Château Talbot, a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Julien, with the ambition of elevating Sénéjac to the ranks of the finest Médoc estates. Following her passing, the domaine is now managed by her sister, Nancy Bignon-Cordier, and her family, who continue to uphold the estate’s heritage while pursuing excellence in winemaking.

Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Vineyard Area: 40 hectares
Soils: Deep gravel soils
Planting Density: 6,600 vines per hectare
Yield: 51 hl/ha
Average Vine Age: 35 years
Harvest: Mechanical and hand-harvested

2016 Harvest: From October 3 to October 19

Vinification

Fermentation Vessels: Temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
Ageing: 12 to 15 months in oak barrels, including 30% new oak