The 2016 Château Citran is a classic Haut-Médoc from the historic Cru Bourgeois estate in Avensan, just inland from Margaux. Owned by the Merlaut family, who are also behind leading Médoc properties including Chasse-Spleen, Château Citran has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. The estate’s gravelly soils and Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant vineyards produce wines that combine traditional Left Bank structure with increasing refinement and elegance. The exceptional 2016 Bordeaux vintage delivered wines of outstanding balance, freshness and longevity across the Médoc.
The nose reveals cassis, blackberry and dark cherry layered with cedar, graphite, tobacco leaf and subtle vanilla spice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is beautifully structured, with ripe black fruit framed by polished tannins and vibrant acidity. Notes of pencil lead, cocoa, liquorice and earthy complexity emerge with time in the glass, leading to a long, savoury finish. The vintage’s combination of concentration and freshness gives the wine impressive depth while maintaining classic Médoc restraint and precision. Château Citran’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend is particularly successful in 2016, offering both immediate appeal and substantial ageing potential.
Ben’s Recommendation:
A superb value mature Bordeaux that showcases the strength of the 2016 vintage. Elegant, structured and distinctly Left Bank in character, it pairs beautifully with roast lamb, beef fillet, duck breast, venison and aged hard cheeses. Decant for an hour before serving to allow the wine’s complexity to fully emerge. Drinking beautifully now, but it has the balance and structure to continue evolving gracefully through 2038–2045.
