Chateau Siaurac – Two Bordeaux Right Bank Vintages: 2016 vs. 2020

Two Bordeaux Right Bank Vintages That Each Offer a Different Yet Enjoyable Character on the Palate

We visited Château Siaurac, and it was such a nice experience. The hosts were incredible, and this was actually the first château I had ever visited in France, which made it even better. The weather was cool and cloudy but somehow still bright—a surprisingly good combination that added to the atmosphere. After seeing some of the process behind the wines, we finally got to the wine part: Château Siaurac vs. Plaisir de Siaurac, where this little vs. begins.

Château Siaurac vs. Plaisir de Siaurac: Two Different Characters

I would have to say Château Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2016 and Plaisir de Siaurac 2020 are both very enjoyable Bordeaux wines from the Right Bank, near Saint-Émilion. However, each offers something different.

Personally, the 2016 Château Siaurac comes across as more balanced, finished, and ultimately more complete to me: deeper in hue, more structured, and a little more serious in tone. The 2020 Plaisir, on the other hand, leans into immediacy—plusher fruit, softer edges, and a more accessible taste right out of the gate. This makes sense considering it’s meant to be the more approachable, everyday wine of the two.

In the glass, Siaurac 2016 has a darker and more layered profile, with beautiful legs slowly making their way down the glass. Black cherry and plum come through with that Bordeaux mix of cedar, pencil shavings, and a faint tobacco/earth note. Those notes develop as you drink it—although there was really no need to air this baby. The tannins have presence—polished, but clearly there—and to me, the wine already felt complete. That said, I could absolutely see it aging longer and continuing to evolve.

Plaisir 2020, meanwhile, is more about bright, juicy red-and-black fruit—think raspberry and ripe plum. It was really nice and enjoyable from the start. There’s less of that savory, forest-floor complexity and more of a smooth, rounded character. I wouldn’t call it simple; it’s just more straightforward. The oak and tannins are dialed back enough to make it very easy to enjoy.

Lalande de Pomerol and Plaisir de Siaurac Verdict

If I’m choosing a bottle to impress—or to pair with a proper steak, lamb, or anything rich—I’m reaching for Château Siaurac 2016. It has that extra dimension and more serious finish, with enough structure to cut through the fat nicely. And for some reason, I kept thinking this baby would be so good with something chocolatey. If I’m choosing a bottle to open now for a nice conversation on a balcony, Plaisir de Siaurac 2020 is my pick: approachable, satisfying, and already showing itself nicely at a younger age. Same address, different mood—and I’d happily revisit either one depending on the occasion.