1996 Couvent des Jacobins

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 89.5 points

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  9/1/2021 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points

  12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
  
  Moderately translucent and slightly evolved black cherry color. Brooding, somewhat sweet-toned and slightly funky nose with aromas of wizened dark fruits and ripe black cherries, some bretty notes of leather, a little bit of juicy strawberry, light fragrant notes of pipe tobacco and a woody touch of oak spice. The wine is quite ripe, juicy and textural on the palate with flavors of blackcurrants and wild strawberries, some leathery tones, a little bit of tart lingonberries and bitter notes of sour cherries, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of pipe tobacco and a minty touch of herbal greenness. The overall feel is firm yet supple and silky with the moderately high acidity and somewhat grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, ripe and moderately grippy with somewhat evolved flavors of wild strawberries, some pipe tobacco, a little bit of ripe redcurrants, light cherry notes, a hint of leathery funk and a touch of earthy spice.
  
  A nice, balanced and moderately evolved St. Émilion - although not particularly recognizable for such. Although the wine is built like a classic 1996 Right Bank claret, aromatically many (me included) went to Mediterranean; I guessed an older Languedoc wine (thinking of perhaps Mas de Daumas Gassac or a Pic-St. Loup) while other guessed Bandol or Southern Rhône. Despite the somewhat southern feel of the wine, the overall impression was that of an enjoyable 25-yo GCC St. Émilion, but one that was also a bit generic - no obvious lows, but also lacking the highs. Good, but nothing truly memorable. Good value at 32€, though.

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