1996 Charmes Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
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The 1996 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru is a wine that I bought a few bottles of in the days when I could get change from fifty pounds! This replicates the strong showing from 2010: ebullient red fruit on the nose with crushed granite and light truffle scents that convey more brightness than many 1996 reds. The palate is beautifully balanced with svelte tannins and a well-structured, quite grippy but balanced finish. It simply oozes effortless class and should offer many more years of pleasure. Tasted at The Ledbury in London.
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Neal Martin
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
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Tasted at the Denis Bachelet dinner at Quality Chop House. The Charmes-Chambertin 1996 has plenty of sous-bois on the nose, perhaps too much in proportion to the fruit, with hints of menthol developing with time that feel just a little out of place. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. This is a decent, solid Charmes-Chambertin that feels a little funky on the finish. Not bad, but I expected more and wonder whether another bottle would be better.