1996 Red Bordeaux (Medoc) , with Richard Brazier
Handford Wines, London
Tasted Tuesday, October 16, 2012 by Papies with 799 views
Introduction
Another great tasting at Handford Wines presented by Richard Brazier of Ancient and Modern wines (www.ancientandmodernwines.co.uk/)
We love 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux and for us this was a great opportunity to put this to the test and see the evolution of this vintage.
Richard mentioned that he avoided the First growths because ( of cost too) because they are at the moment closed and far too young to approach. Maybe in 10 years they will enter their drinking window.
All wines were decanted for 1 hour but we would suggest at least 2.
1996 Château Palmer 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
On the dark side in colour, still quite youthful. The nose is a classic well aged left bank. Spicy cabernet sauvignon, very aromatic and open, with minty/floral notes light oak and red fruits. Very elegant and open. On the palate the wine feels a bit on the young side, firm tannin and fruit on the mid palate, good acidity, medium weight but with some bitter tannin ( a touch of green too?) on the finish which spoils an otherwise beautiful wine. Needs at least another 5yrs in bottle to enter its drinking window. 92 for now and what a nose!
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Cos d'Estournel 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Among the nicest CdE wines we have tried for a some time. The colour is still on the young and dark side. Cab sauv dominated aromatics, very open and aromatic on the nose, with spicy notes, light earth, light toasty oak and a touch on the floral side. Much like the Palmer this has a singing old school bdx classic nose. Good fruit across, mineral and with good acidity. A touch of dark fruits too and with a bit of weight on this and although young and quite tannic on the finish this is quite a beauty. Could use another 5-7yrs in bottle and will evolve into something special. 93-94 easy
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Léoville Poyferré 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Quite dark in colour still. Dark fruits on the nose, light spice and in general very aromatic and open. The highlight of this wine. Quite round and fleshy on the palate, smooth and very light, soft tannins. Good to drink now (probably the only one on our line up of 96s). It is on the low complexity side and lacks the vibrancy of other 96s but still enjoyable in its lightness. 90-92 and drink from now
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Léoville Barton 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Light bricking on the rim and start to show some age. Another quite classic Bordeaux heavy on the cab sauv (96 was a great year for cab sauv on the left bank). Beautiful nose with more of a dark fruit feel, cedar, light floral/minty and light earthy probably the most secondary of our line up of 96s. Quite on the fruit, good tannin, classic ie a bit backward but this is a very good wine, probably the best LB we have tried and with good life ahead of it. We would also recommend the softer Langoa Barton 96 for now too. 92-3 and maybe more as it matures. Drink now but preferably wait a few years and with a goo life ahead of it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Léoville Las Cases 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Elegant, full of finesse yet full restrain. Buttoned up in a way and hidden, tight and much like the first growths one that needs another 10 years to evolve into what should be superb wine. The nose is light restrained yet ever so elegant and balanced. On the palate it is closed, light on the fruit yet ever so balanced. Maybe it is star gazing but here we will break out norm and rate on potential. 95 and wait 10yrs.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Quite n the dark side in colour, a lot more youthful in colour. The nose is on the oaky side, more California (a friend joked that this wine went to California for summer school) than Bordeaux. Dark dense fruits on the nose. Quite a bit of ripe, extracted fruit on the palate , dense but unfortunately low on acidity and lacks the balance and finesse that left bank Bdx has to offer from 96. not sure where it goes from here to be honest. 91 no more
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Pontet-Canet 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Classic in all ways , and one for the lovers of old school Bordeaux. Light floral, cigar box, light fruit on the nose. A touch backward at this stage and needs quite a bit of decanting (as most 96s) but still very balanced and elegant with good palate presence. A touch of dry tannin on the finish unfortunately but still a very good wine. 92-93 and will drink very nicely over 10-15yrs
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Wow. This has developed quite a bit since we last had it a couple of years back. Beautiful, open nose, rich, full of fruit aromatics and a touch of oak. Quite dense wine a lighter version of the 1990 monster. Lush ripe fruit, singing nose, vibrant , good acidity just a marvellous wine full of potential. 93+
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Soft on the nose, herbal notes, soft fruit, quite the elegance ne expect from lalande. On the palate it is uninspiring unfortunately and although there is nothing wrong with it and all the elements are in balance and sync still it lacks the magic we were looking for. A bit soft on the finish too. Don’t get us wrong this is a solid wine but we were expecting so much more. 92 and can be enjoyed now but still with a lot of life ahead.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Deep, intense and very elegant on the nose. A touch burgundian on the nose if we can use that analogy . Round a fleshy fruit on the palate, well round, no rough/youngish tannins here and all is in good balance. A great showing and a wine that can easily be enjoyed now and with a great deal of life ahead. 92-93 for now from us.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue