Showing 1-13 out of 13 items
Hide All Tasting Notes
Chateau Gruaud Larose,
Ready, but will keep,
This has a Gruaud signature etched onto its enticing, rich and decadent nose. This is a superb example of Bordeaux and particular St Julien at its very best. Really silky and creamy on the palate with a fabulously exotic, powerful, ripe and sweet black/red fruit core. Long finish and very classy indeed.
(Simon Staples - Berrys' Fine Wine Director - 20-Feb-2009)
(Simon Staples - Berrys' Fine Wine Director - 20-Feb-2009)
Chateau Lagrange,
Drink now,
This third growth estate was purchased by the Japanese group Suntory in 1983. There followed a period of significant investment and now the Franco-Japanese management team have a stringent selection process that has helped restore the wines to a high standard. Following fermentation the wines spend 20 months in 50% new oak. The 1996 is a powerful, St. Julien with cedary notes and cassis aromas, concentration, robust character and length.
Chateau Giscours,
Drink now,
Ch. Giscours is one of the largest Margaux properties and now producing wine worthy of its Troisième Cru Classé status. Giscours was in a dire state when it was acquired by Nicholas Tari in 1952. He invested heavily and the quality of the wine improved beyond recognition. In 1995 he sold the property to Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma. Giscours produces richly aromatic wines that are surprisingly powerful on the palate, displaying ripe, black fruit with hints of cedar and new oak.
This is a soft, medium-bodied, spicy, herbaceous Claret packed full of blackcurrant and cherry fruit.
This is a soft, medium-bodied, spicy, herbaceous Claret packed full of blackcurrant and cherry fruit.
Chateau Latour,
Ready, but will keep,
Latour is a model for consistancy and excellence in even the poorest of vintages. In a superb year like 1996 the results are heavenly! This is a textbook Latour, massively concentrated, rich, with polished tannins and full bodied without being heavy. The extraordinary power and balance of this wine is phenomenal. It should continue to evolve to 2030.
Chateau Leoville Las Cases,
Ready, but will keep,
One of the best Lascases I have ever tasted. Whilst the ripe 1990 is the more seductive wine at the moment, the 1996 has a linear class, focus and balance that is pretty much in the first-growth league. It’s often said that there is a very strong argument for Lascases being reclassified as a first growth; in vintages such as 1996, 2000 & 2005 it’s all the more compelling. One of the most complete clarets available.
Fine Wine Team
Fine Wine Team
Ready, but will keep,
A superb wine from this the leading 2em cru class Margaux property. Aromas of ripe black fruits, minerals and spices with hints of toasty new oak lead on to a refined palate displaying very good depth of fruit bolstered by silky smooth tannins. Approachable now but will be drinking at its best from 2006 - 2012.
Chateau Leoville Barton,
Ready, but will keep,
There can surely be few other estates that are as sought-after or as consistently brilliant as Léoville-Barton and 1996 was an outstanding year for this impressive Second Growth. This wine highlights St Julien’ssuccess in 1996 with a richly opulent style that will give incredible satisfaction for years to come. This may not be as flamboyant as the 1995 and still very much in its youth, but it is already approachable and will provide sublime drinking until 2030.
Showing 1-13 out of 13 items