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Château Haut-Brion(1996)
- Winery:
- Chateau Haut Brion
- Varietal:
- Bordeaux Blend
- Region:
- France > Bordeaux > Graves > Pessac-léognan
- Type:
- Red Wine
- User Tags:
- closed, fruit, complex, dried, tobacco, oak, resinous, alcohol imbalance, herbaceous, forward
About 1996 Bordeaux:
The climate of 1996 was mostly characterized by its great irregularity. Except for a few days in July, there were no long hot periods. It began to rain rather late in August.
The first half of September was temperate but it rained all the time during the second half. Altogether the summer was average with a few nice intervals.
Chateau tasting notes
This vintage is a wine full of contradictions and difficult to make out. The grapes were acid, but produced a subtle wine. The sugar level was unusually high but the phenolic ripeness altered read more...depending on the different varieties. The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon seemed riper than the Merlots. The quality was very close to the last year's crop, but the structure of the wine was different. Missing the tannins of the '95, now the '96 tannins finished with a light bitter taste in the mouth.
The wine was ample with a good structure and a pleasant harmony. It is a very good wine and will make an excellent Haut-Brion. (hide)
The climate of 1996 was mostly characterized by its great irregularity. Except for a few days in July, there were no long hot periods. It began to rain rather late in August.
The first half of September was temperate but it rained all the time during the second half. Altogether the summer was average with a few nice intervals.
Chateau tasting notes
This vintage is a wine full of contradictions and difficult to make out. The grapes were acid, but produced a subtle wine. The sugar level was unusually high but the phenolic ripeness altered read more...depending on the different varieties. The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon seemed riper than the Merlots. The quality was very close to the last year's crop, but the structure of the wine was different. Missing the tannins of the '95, now the '96 tannins finished with a light bitter taste in the mouth.
The wine was ample with a good structure and a pleasant harmony. It is a very good wine and will make an excellent Haut-Brion. (hide)
-
June 2007
- A very hot year and also very dry ; such years produce great vintages. Here is what we can say about this wine today: first, the wine shows great concentration of aromas and a lot of mellowness due to lovely tannins and a rather low acidity. A wine with a lot of fitness and harmony. One might compare it to the 1959 for its structure and mellowness. Similar weather conditions produced a rather similar crop.
- Stephen Tanzer
- International Wine Cellar
- Issue 84, May/June 1999
- 92/100
-
July 2007
- Full ruby-red. Initially mute nose opened slowly to reveal complex aromas of raspberry, plum, hot stones, tobacco, saddle leather and toffee. Really explodes on the palate; lush and minerally, with a compelling note of woodsmoke and firm acidity. Wonderful combination of sweetness and vibrancy. Finishes very long and subtle, with firm tannins.
- James Suckling
- Wine Spectator
- 91/100
-
July 2007
- March 2008
-
No written review
- International Wine Cellar
- May-99
- 92/100
-
August 2007
