PWS (@ My place: Four Bordeaux.): In the bouquet some dark fruits, graphite, sweet spices, sweet licorice and a nice oak perfume. On the palate still some dark fruits, later also red fruits, pleasant acidity and soft tannin. Also a touch of sweetness and some chocolate. Soft bitterness. Good length. A friendly and elegant wine with some finesse and complexity. Not a bit too old yet and really nice now.
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I also thought this rather nice, and certainly not over the hill. It's not a blockbuster (but who goes to the Graves for blockbusters?), rather a restrained and elegant wine, with some fruit still there but also some savoury, tertiary flavours coming through. It really opened up as we drank over a couple of hours (especially on the nose) so I would recommend decanting for an hour or two even at this relatively late stage in its life.
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I do not understand the past low ratings on this wine both from the pros and the "community". This bottle was still very much youthful and had many years till it peaked; there was no noticeable oxidation in taste or color. It was a classical tasting Graves with deep intense color and heavy layered flavors. The nose was a bit light but opened up in the glass with flowers and fruit. I wish I had a few more bottles to try over the next 5-10 years
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Ch. Olivier rouge 1996 is a fairly classic Bordeaux without any memorable features. The bottle and cork were in good condition, the wine did not show any signs of age. Its colour was a slightly purplish red, not very dense and a bit watery. The wine does not have a great structure, has a bit of fruit and a bit of tobacco. On the palate, it was quite harsh for the first two glasses and then softened down. I think a lot of lower ranked wines are better than this one.
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pleasant classic Bordeaulaise aroma, simple-structured with low-complexity in taste. An enjoyable wine, good-value-for-money, not elegant, no pretentions.
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Upon first sip, the wine was harsh with strong notes of alcohol. It opened up beautifully after just 15 or so minutes, bringing forth the rich textures of berries and a smokey caramel palate. A memorable bottle
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Very effusive aromas immediately after opening, which quickly muted down. Left with a very pleasant wine, with some complexity, but lacking depth. Good Graves typicity.
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This wine is just delicious and approaching its peak. The color is medium brick. The nose abounds with scents of roses, red and black cherries and a hint of currants. The taste resembles the nose is very complex with tastes of cherries, casis and currants. Drink-up over the next two years.
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1/23/2022 - Fred M Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very delicious. Deep ruby red, vibrant, cassis, coffee, agree with previous notes. It has more years to go Unfortunately this is my last bottle.
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9/7/2020 - hospad Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red, cassis, oak, cocoa, touch of coffee, pleasant berries, soft tannins, opened up after an hour. Drinking well.
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2/22/2014 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
PWS (@ My place: Four Bordeaux.): In the bouquet some dark fruits, graphite, sweet spices, sweet licorice and a nice oak perfume. On the palate still some dark fruits, later also red fruits, pleasant acidity and soft tannin. Also a touch of sweetness and some chocolate. Soft bitterness. Good length. A friendly and elegant wine with some finesse and complexity. Not a bit too old yet and really nice now.
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2/29/2012 - jah31 wrote: 90 Points
I also thought this rather nice, and certainly not over the hill. It's not a blockbuster (but who goes to the Graves for blockbusters?), rather a restrained and elegant wine, with some fruit still there but also some savoury, tertiary flavours coming through. It really opened up as we drank over a couple of hours (especially on the nose) so I would recommend decanting for an hour or two even at this relatively late stage in its life.
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1/5/2012 - wtianseter wrote: 91 Points
I do not understand the past low ratings on this wine both from the pros and the "community". This bottle was still very much youthful and had many years till it peaked; there was no noticeable oxidation in taste or color. It was a classical tasting Graves with deep intense color and heavy layered flavors. The nose was a bit light but opened up in the glass with flowers and fruit. I wish I had a few more bottles to try over the next 5-10 years
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3/30/2011 - Kris G wrote: 86 Points
over its top, not great, not at the level of a GCC
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12/19/2010 - octopussy wrote: 85 Points
Ch. Olivier rouge 1996 is a fairly classic Bordeaux without any memorable features. The bottle and cork were in good condition, the wine did not show any signs of age. Its colour was a slightly purplish red, not very dense and a bit watery. The wine does not have a great structure, has a bit of fruit and a bit of tobacco. On the palate, it was quite harsh for the first two glasses and then softened down. I think a lot of lower ranked wines are better than this one.
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5/17/2010 - Yagil wrote: 87 Points
pleasant classic Bordeaulaise aroma, simple-structured with low-complexity in taste. An enjoyable wine, good-value-for-money, not elegant, no pretentions.
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8/8/2009 - Portia wrote: 91 Points
Upon first sip, the wine was harsh with strong notes of alcohol. It opened up beautifully after just 15 or so minutes, bringing forth the rich textures of berries and a smokey caramel palate. A memorable bottle
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1/22/2007 - chmd wrote: 87 Points
Very effusive aromas immediately after opening, which quickly muted down. Left with a very pleasant wine, with some complexity, but lacking depth. Good Graves typicity.
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11/22/2005 - johnwine wrote: 92 Points
This wine is just delicious and approaching its peak. The color is medium brick. The nose abounds with scents of roses, red and black cherries and a hint of currants. The taste resembles the nose is very complex with tastes of cherries, casis and currants. Drink-up over the next two years.
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10/4/2002 - R2-D2 wrote: 85 Points
Light oak and smokey cherry flavors. Short lived finish, no real depth. Drink now.
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