The wine has still a dark red color. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like violet, dried plum and raspberry with a taste like black currant (cassis) and black pepper. The wine has leathery texture so it does not feel smooth in your mouth. The wine finishes longand has medium acidity. For the age of it it is still very powerful but I think it will for sure not get better, drink it know.
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Very 1996 in that it is long, elegant and stylish as a Medoc wine with lovely floral aromatics and flavours. This wine is a little akin to a poor man's Margaux in style. Ended long and balanced. Many years ahead of it, not as described by other tasters recently. Must be bottle-variation.
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Consistent with previous note. Maybe slightly less evolved, but still passed its peak. Knowing how good Rollan de By can be, I'm glad that I jud had 2 bottles of this vintage. And it makes me think that I shouldn't wait too much before drinking the 1999 I still have in my cellar, which up to now have always been delicious.
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This was the last of four bottles and quite honestly, the best. Showing a little orange on the rim, there was beautiful mellow fruit showing, backed up by 'a walk in the woods in the fall' (my 12 year old daughter's quote, as her eyes lit up), hints of licorice. A full but delicate mouthful, with a lovely ebb and flow of acidity. Completely integrated tannins as one would expect. This is the reason I prefer to hang on to my Bdx's and drink them old. Quite often they go through a four or five year dumbing down period that people often mistake for being over the hill. The rewards of waiting are worth it though, as they take on a character that a young wine will never achieve. I just wish I had taken my own advice and not opened the other three bottles up earlier.
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1/18/2020 - SwissHJ wrote: 89 Points
The wine has still a dark red color. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like violet, dried plum and raspberry with a taste like black currant (cassis) and black pepper. The wine has leathery texture so it does not feel smooth in your mouth. The wine finishes longand has medium acidity. For the age of it it is still very powerful but I think it will for sure not get better, drink it know.
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9/19/2015 - macaujames wrote: 87 Points
Very 1996 in that it is long, elegant and stylish as a Medoc wine with lovely floral aromatics and flavours. This wine is a little akin to a poor man's Margaux in style. Ended long and balanced. Many years ahead of it, not as described by other tasters recently. Must be bottle-variation.
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1/25/2009 - manudibang wrote: 83 Points
Consistent with previous note. Maybe slightly less evolved, but still passed its peak. Knowing how good Rollan de By can be, I'm glad that I jud had 2 bottles of this vintage. And it makes me think that I shouldn't wait too much before drinking the 1999 I still have in my cellar, which up to now have always been delicious.
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1/16/2009 - manudibang wrote: 82 Points
Too late...still drinkable, but should have had it 3-4 years ago...
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3/21/2008 - Violalto wrote: 89 Points
This was the last of four bottles and quite honestly, the best. Showing a little orange on the rim, there was beautiful mellow fruit showing, backed up by 'a walk in the woods in the fall' (my 12 year old daughter's quote, as her eyes lit up), hints of licorice. A full but delicate mouthful, with a lovely ebb and flow of acidity. Completely integrated tannins as one would expect. This is the reason I prefer to hang on to my Bdx's and drink them old. Quite often they go through a four or five year dumbing down period that people often mistake for being over the hill. The rewards of waiting are worth it though, as they take on a character that a young wine will never achieve. I just wish I had taken my own advice and not opened the other three bottles up earlier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment