1996 Château Beauséjour
By Chateau Beausejour
1996 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
The 1996 vintage of the Saint-Emilion region heralds a period that was quite remarkable in Bordeaux's rich tapestry of winemaking years. A standout within this context is the 1996 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse, a wine whose eloquence speaks of the judicious blend of climate and craft.
An Exemplary Vintage Under Scrutiny
The growing season in 1996 was marked by contrasts: a dry and sunny August concluding with beneficent showers towards the end and a rather unexceptional September. Nonetheless, these conditions conspired to produce grapes that yielded a wine of remarkable balance. This was a year when Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse's winemaking expertise was manifest, deftly navigating the climatic intricacies.
Complexity and Refinement: A True Collector's Jewel
On approaching this venerable '96, one is greeted with an aristocratic bouquet: an assembly of spice, tobacco, and black fruits where each component contributes with modesty to the composite fragrance. Its palate carries the matured fruits' opulence—a dignified nod to Saint-Emilion's luscious merlot—with finely knit tannins and a lingering finish that speaks volumes of its pedigree and potential longevity. It’s a wine that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the most investable assets in any connoisseur's portfolio.
The 1996 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse is one for the students of subtlety and devotees of depth. A wine not simply tasted but rather experienced; it unfolds sagaciously on the palate, rewarding those patient enough to appreciate its evolving chapters. Investing in such wines is an odyssey—one that promises returns as rich as the liquid history they contain.
A Vintage Verdict
In summary, amongst the annals of storied vintages that grace the ledger of any veteran oenophile, the 1996 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse represents an astute acquisition. Its charm lies not only in its inherent quality but also in its splendid capacity to enchant and reward over time—qualities that firmly underscore its position as one of the more compelling narratives from Bordeaux in your investment symposium.
Current market price
£690.00
12x75cl
Highest score
87
POP score
98.57
Scores and tasting notes
It appears that I overestimated the quality of this wine. I was only able to taste it once out of bottle, but it seemed to have very little of the multidimensional concentration and intensity I had indicated from cask. The wine is dark ruby-colored, with the tell-tale attractive black raspberry, pronounced mineral characteristics this small vineyard produces. The wine was lighter and more angular than in cask tastings, with dry, astringent tannin in the moderately long finish. It is very good, but it is not outstanding, as I had expected it to be. Moreover, the 1996 Beausejour-Duffau will have a tendency to dry out given the way the tannin is behaving. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 April 1999