The Bordeaux 1996 Wines

TASTING REPORT

Discover the Oenoschool report celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bordeaux 1996 wines!

• Haut Médoc, Cru Bourgeois, Château Clément Pichon 1996

A light color and a nose of cocoa and bell pepper. The palate is somewhat slender, but the wine is digestible and elegant, although relatively short on the palate...  

• Pessac Léognan, Château de Fieuzal1996

The color is deeper. There is a nose of black fruits and leather, relatively animal... The attack is very fruity, but the finish is very astringent with green and aggressive tannins.  

• Pomerol, Château Gazin 1996

Evolved and not very dense color, extremely open and complex nose (cooked fruits, dried flowers, meaty and bloody). The palate is a model of balance with silky tannins and remarkable fruitiness.  

• Saint Emilion, 1^er Grand Cru Classé Château Clos Fourtet 1996

A color that has evolved little, a discreet nose of licorice and cocoa. The palate is quite fine but lacks substance to balance the present and bitter tannins.  

• Pauillac, 5ème Grand Cru Classé Château Haut Bages Libéral 1996

The color is evolved and not very intense, while the nose reveals notes of bell pepper and licorice. On the palate, the attack is warm and more pleasant, but the finish is marked by austere tannins that are still very present. This wine lacks substance to balance the tannins.  

• Saint Estèphe, 3ème Cru Classé Château Calon Ségur 1996

A relatively evolved color, an animal nose with notes of leather, prunes, and smoke. The palate is very concentrated, it balances well the present tannins, but they are somewhat coarse for a wine of this caliber.  

• Saint Julien, 2^ème Grand Cru Classé Château Ducru Beaucaillou 1996

The color has evolved little. The nose is discreet with cocoa, tobacco, licorice, pepper... The palate is strict (licorice, black fruits, cedar) but very straight with remarkable length. A wine that still needs time to reach its optimum.  

• Sauternes, 2ème Grand Cru Classé, De Malle Comtesse de Bournazel 1996

An orange-gold color, a complex nose of candied citrus fruits, cloves, pineapple, and quince. The palate is marked by a beautiful acidity that leaves the palate fresh and perfectly balances the sugar and 14.5% alcohol.