Château Mascard 2016

Producer – Château Mascard

Château Mascard is a small Bordeaux wine estate in the Haut-Médoc, on the Left Bank of the Gironde. The property is located at Saint-Sauveur, in the heart of the Médoc wine region. Local records confirm Château Mascard and SNC Vent d’Ange at the Bel-Air property in Saint-Sauveur.

The estate has a particularly unusual connection with contemporary art. Owner Patrick Leroy invited American graffiti artist Blade to create works inside the winery, giving the cellars a distinctive identity that combines wine and art.

Château Mascard 2016 – Haut-Médoc

The Château Mascard 2016 is a dry red Bordeaux from the Haut-Médoc AOC. The estate’s vineyards are located on the gravel soils of the Médoc, an environment particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Furthermore, 2016 was an excellent Bordeaux vintage, producing wines with ripe fruit, freshness and strong ageing potential. Now with around a decade of bottle age, Château Mascard 2016 is entering a mature and attractive stage.

Grape Varieties

There is conflicting published information about the exact 2016 blend. One 2016-specific merchant lists:

• 65% Merlot
• 35% Cabernet Sauvignon

Another database lists 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. However, Château Mascard’s own material states that its wines are blends of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with no mention of Petit Verdot.

For your product page, I would therefore use Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and avoid percentages unless you have the original 2016 technical sheet.

Vinification & Maturation

The producer confirms that Château Mascard makes two cuvées: one matured in vats and another in oak barrels.

A listing specifically for Château Mascard 2016 states that the wine was:

Aged for 16 months in vats.

This maturation preserves the freshness and intensity of the fruit without adding strong oak flavours.

Tasting Notes

• Colour: Deep ruby red with garnet reflections
• Aroma: Blackcurrant, blackberry, ripe cherry and subtle earthy notes
• Palate: Fresh and balanced with dark fruit, smooth tannins and good structure
• Finish: Persistent with fruit, gentle spice and mature savoury notes

Current tasting data for the 2016 highlights black fruit and cassis, while user tasting notes also identify raspberry, dark chocolate and earthy characters.

Food Pairings

Château Mascard 2016 pairs particularly well with roast beef, ribeye steak, lamb, duck breast, venison, game and mature cheeses.

Moreover, its mature Haut-Médoc character makes it an excellent partner for entrecôte à la bordelaise or lamb. Beef, lamb and game are also recommended matches for the wine.

Serve at approximately 16–18°C.

Drinking Window

Drink now – 2030

A current cellar reference places Château Mascard 2016 in its peak drinking phase from approximately 2023 to 2030.

Therefore, this is a good time to enjoy the wine. I would open it around 30–60 minutes before serving, particularly if the bottle has been stored well.

Style and Character

The Château Mascard 2016 offers classic Haut-Médoc character at an approachable level. Merlot contributes ripe fruit and roundness, while Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure and freshness.

Moreover, maturation in vats keeps the fruit at the centre of the wine. With bottle age, the fresh fruit is now beginning to develop more complex earthy and savoury notes.

Overall, Château Mascard 2016 is a mature Left Bank Bordeaux offering dark fruit, freshness, smooth tannins and the character of an excellent Bordeaux vintage.