1996 horizontal Bordeaux tasting

1996 Bordeaux tasting at a wine merchant last year. All wines double decanted (not sure how long though). Was a bit disappointed, with the exception of the 1996 Lynch Bages, not even the wines I had previously enjoyed (96 GPL, 96 PC) were showing particularly well. Saint Pierre, which in my eyes is one of the best mid-priced 2004 Bordeaux, was particularly disappointing. Inline with some of the lesser Bordeaux, like Lafon Rochet or Grand Puy Ducasse, a fairly thin and already slightly tired wine made of not entirely ripe fruit.

• 1996 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  A tired garnet in the glass, sous bois, bell peppers on the nose, dark fruit, rather thin on the palate, bell peppers, clipped finish. 87

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• 1996 Château Lafon-Rochet 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Garnet, not very expressive on the nose, some bell peppers, dark fruit, a touch of wood spices. Medium - tannins, clipped finish. 88

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• 1996 Château Saint-Pierre 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Garnet. Some wood spices, in ripe medium tannins dominating what is left of the fruit. Clipped finish. 86-87

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• 1996 Château Calon-Ségur 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  A fairly dark garnet, sous bois, wood spices, dark fruit, a bit astringent, medium (-)tannins, medium finish. 90

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• 1996 Château Pontet-Canet 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Darker in the glass, wood spices, richer dark fruit, tannins also here not entirely ripe. Medium finish. 89

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• 1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  A fairly dark garnet, sweeter nose than the others, something slightly artificial though, soft and round palate, definitively richer fruit here. Does not strike me as a typical Pauillac today and remember this better. Medium finish. 91

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• 1996 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Medium garnet, the most complex nose of the tasting with some animal notes joining the dark fruit and sous bois, medium length. Nice. 93

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