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1996 Champagne

When assessing the relative merits of great Champagne vintages, two recent pairings come to mind; 1988 and 1989 on the one hand and 1995 and 1996 on the other. It is a tale of two styles, one catholic and the other puritan, one pure and the other flamboyant. Yet, beyond such simple analysis there is purity in the flamboyance of 1995 and 1989 and no lack of joie de vivre in the wonderfully constructed 1988 and 1996.

1996 goes down in the record books for unparalleled levels of both sugar and acidity in the base wines; levels that would have been too sweet or too tart on their own, but when harmoniously balanced, providing the perfect foundations for superlative wines capable of lengthy ageing. Cool nights and warm days in September provided the key to greatness here.

The 1996 are only now starting to come round, their power and breeding harnessed with a linear grace, their elegance undisputed and evidenced in such contrasting styles as the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne and the Bollinger RD. A great vintage with the prospect of a fascinating and very successful evolution with these, its finest wines.




 
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Retail Prices - Duty Included & Local Tax Excluded More information
VINTAGE WINE BOTTLE SIZE PRICES LIST SETTINGS
White,  drink-or-keep
Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs
France  »  Champagne  »  Blanc de Blancs
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 85.09
$ 138.57
No more stock available
12 x £ 76.57
0 in basket
Special case price £ 918.78
Buy 12 and save £ 102.26 (10%)
Medium-Full Bodied, Brut, White, Chardonnay, Ready, but will keep, 12.5% alc.

Founded in 1729, Ruinart boasts the exalted title of the oldest House in Champagne. Taking its name from the founder’s uncle, Dom Thierry Ruinart (a close friend of none other than Dom Pérignon himself), Ruinart certainly still lives up to its prestigious reputation.
Dom Ruinart is only ever produced from the finest Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes in the best vintages. With its sumptuous white stone fruit, hazelnut and vanilla flavours, the 1996 has to be one of the best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the market today. MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Bollinger R.D.
France  »  Champagne  »  Recently Disgorged
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 102.13
$ 166.33
No more stock available
12 x £ 91.91
0 in basket
Special case price £ 1102.96
Buy 12 and save £ 122.61 (10%)
Full Bodied, Brut, White, Champagne Blend, Ready, but will keep, 12% alc.

Hailed as the best vintage since 1928, 1996 is ideally suited to the powerfully expressive style of RD. An attractive toasty nose, with notes of roasted nuts and summer fruit leads on to an explosion of flavour on the palate with the savoury and the sweet harmoniously harnessed followed by a majestic finish.This is an exceptional RD, powerful enough to match a variety of dishes and, needless to say, superb on its own. The ultimate expression from the ultimate Champagne House! MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Billecart-Salmon Grande Cuvee
France  »  Champagne  »  Brut
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 106.35
$ 173.20
No more stock available
12 x £ 95.74
0 in basket
Special case price £ 1148.87
Buy 12 and save £ 127.30 (9.5%)
Medium Bodied, Brut, White, Champagne Blend, Ready, but will keep, 12% alc.

Made from 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, this wine certainly lives up to its name. Aged for over six years and showing all the structure and power of this magnificent vintage, the wine marries notes of honey and spring flowers on the nose with hints of ginger and marmite; the palate is broad and rich, yet to loosen its grip. When it does, over time, its apotheosis will be memorable...from 2010 let's say.
(Simon Field MW, Champagne Buyer) MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
France  »  Champagne  »  Brut
Bottle
(70cl)
£ 110.61
$ 180.14
No more stock available
12 x £ 99.57
0 in basket
Special case price £ 1194.78
Buy 12 and save £ 132.52 (9.5%)
Medium-Full Bodied, Brut, White, Chardonnay, Ready, but will keep, 12.5% alc.

One of the great all-Chardonnay Champagnes – its musculature expressing the power of the vintage, its elegant texture and sublime finish indicative of the quality of the fruit. MORE
Rose,  drink-or-keep
Dom Ruinart Rosé
France  »  Champagne  »  Rosé
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 114.87
$ 187.08
No more stock available
12 x £ 103.39
0 in basket
Special case price £ 1240.70
Buy 12 and save £ 137.74 (9.5%)
Medium-Full Bodied, Brut, Rose, Pinot Noir, Ready, but will keep, 12.5% alc.

Dom Ruinart vintage Rose is one of the most sophisticated roses in the market, a blend of Chardonnay, the signature grape of the house, with the inclusion of Pinot Noir, both from Grand Cru vineyards. The nose is bold with yeasty complexity, supple, round and harmonious palate, showing notes of nectarine, apricot and cherry-plum. Wonderful with filet of veal in lemon and caper sauce, lobster salad or crab cakes. MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Perrier Jouët, Belle Epoque
France  »  Champagne  »  Brut
Magnum
(150cl)
£ 174.43
$ 284.08
No more stock available
6 x £ 138.70
0 in basket
Special case price £ 832.17
Buy 6 and save £ 214.43 (20%)
Medium-Full Bodied, Brut, White, Champagne Blend, Ready, but will keep, 12% alc.

"A stunning Belle Epoque from the legendary 1996 vintage; a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier, aged for five years. The elegance of the famous bottle is captured in the wine, the famously floral and ethereal style evidenced from the delicate mousse all the way to the beautifully rounded finish. Even better en magnum." (Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer) MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon
France  »  Champagne  »  Brut
Limited Stock
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 182.96
$ 297.96
No more stock available
0 in basket
Medium-Full Bodied, Brut, White, Champagne Blend, Ready, but will keep, 12.5% alc.

This is one of the most impressive Dom Pérignons ever produced, with many wine critics claiming it is even richer than the awesome 1990. This delicious Champagne will age for decades to come, but why deny yourself the sumptuous, yeasty fruit and vanilla pod aromas now. Drink now - 2020.
(2005 International Wine Challenge Silver Medal Winnner) MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs
France  »  Champagne  »  Blanc de Blancs
Magnum
(150cl)
£ 182.96
$ 297.96
No more stock available
12 x £ 164.65
0 in basket
Special case price £ 1975.83
Buy 12 and save £ 219.65 (10%)
Medium-Full Bodied, Brut, White, Chardonnay, Ready, but will keep, 12.5% alc.

"One of the best all Chardonnay Champagnes from one of the very best years; taut acidity dances around the palate of hazelnut, white fruit and vanillin. A sumptuous vin de garde."
(Simon Field MW, BBR-Buyer) MORE
White,  drink-or-keep
Krug
France  »  Champagne  »  Brut
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 254.43
$ 414.37
No more stock available
12 x £ 202.06
0 in basket
Special case price £ 2424.73
Buy 12 and save £ 628.49 (20.5%)
Full Bodied, Brut, White, Champagne Blend, Ready, but will keep, 12% alc.

A year like no other, 1996 in Champagne married the highest levels of sugar and acidity in living memory; the resulting wines are extraordinary in their concentration, yet perfectly poised in terms of structural definition. A seductive golden colour then a surprisingly forward nose which marries honey, acacia, brioche and truffle; it is on the palate that the identity of the year really starts to sing, with minerality providing a taut and still precocious texture. Beneath this the ripe fruit is slumbering; its ultimate manifestation will herald unparalled complexity and profundity. Similar to the 88 but I suspect it will, over time, be even better.
(Simon Field MW) MORE
The Wine Advocate Score: 98 /100.

White,  drink-or-keep
Krug (Gift Box)
France  »  Champagne  »  Brut
Limited Stock
Bottle
(75cl)
£ 254.43
$ 414.37
No more stock available
12 x £ 229.00
0 in basket
Special case price £ 2748.00
Buy 12 and save £ 305.22 (9.5%)
Full Bodied, Brut, White, Champagne Blend, Ready, but will keep, 12% alc.

A year like no other, 1996 in Champagne married the highest levels of sugar and acidity in living memory; the resulting wines are extraordinary in their concentration, yet perfectly poised in terms of structural definition. A seductive golden colour then a surprisingly forward nose which marries honey, acacia, brioche and truffle; it is on the palate that the identity of the year really starts to sing, with minerality providing a taut and still precocious texture. Beneath this the ripe fruit is slumbering; its ultimate manifestation will herald unparalled complexity and profundity. Similar to the 88 but I suspect it will, over time, be even better.
(Simon Field MW) MORE
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