1996 Château Margaux Margaux Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
97456 Views
1996
Château (Margaux)
This could hit triple digits in a few years. It continues filing out, gaining in complexity, richness, and texturally, additional layers of silk and velvet on the palate are the order of the day. This stunning wine is showing beautifully today, and while pricey, it is the best deal for a mature vintage of Chateau Margaux in the market today. Drink from 2023-2055. 4,169 Views Tasted Dec 4, 2023Drinking beautifully today, this has everything you could ask for in a great vintage of Margaux. Soaring, floral, tobacco and red berry aromatics, full, rich, concentrated layers of ripe, sweet, red fruits, silky, velvet-textured tannins and a long finish. This is simply great wine. 6,303 Views Tasted Apr 5, 2022Close to the sweet spot, this sexy, sensual, silky velvet-textured beauty has it going on. Concentrated, full-bodied, intense, balanced, long, fresh and complex, it is hard to find a better wine. There is so much pleasure here, it's impossible not to finish your glass and fill up for more. 8,573 Views Tasted Apr 3, 2020Stunning! That is the only word this tasting note really needs. But for those that like more detail, this is intensely concentrated, opulent, silky and fresh. The fruit is perfectly ripe, pure, sweet and offers lift and length. Elegant from start to finish, this has entered into maturity, but there is no hurry to drink it. I am sure the 96 Margaux will provide pleasure and positive evolution for at least another 25-35 years, if well stored. 6,918 Views Tasted Nov 13, 2018About 2 hours of air, and this really exploded into everything you were hoping it would be. Rich, silky, plush, polished, and fresh, with layers of perfectly ripe, sweet, opulent fruits that tasting and felt great were impossible not to enjoy. This is really getting close to optimum drinking here. 8,277 Views Tasted Jun 25, 2017With bottle age, every wine turns out different. While still a stunning tasting experience, this bottle was not as ostentatious as other examples. Young, fresh, full bodied, silky and with great, purity of fruit, it lacked the expressiveness found in the best bottles. 9,248 Views Tasted May 6, 2016Silk and velvet tannins, ripe, pure, fresh, sweet, vibrant fruits, a perfume of violets, tobacco, cassis, blackberry and earthy notes and a finish that does not quit. What more can you ask for? This is close to ready. It is going to get better and better for a long time, but at close to 20 years of age, this is starting to enter its prime time drinking window. 8,731 Views Tasted Jul 10, 2015Now we're talking my language! Packed with licorice, coffee bean, coconut, cassis, blackberry, earth and floral characteristics. Intense, concentrated, long and powerful, this still young wine will really turn on the charm with another 5 - 10 more years in the bottle. 11,701 Views Tasted Mar 30, 2014After a string of perfect bottles of Margaux, this particular bottle was good, but not great. And definitely no performing at the level it is capable of. It seems to lack the polish and precision normally experienced in this wine. Once again, with the passage of time, there are no great wines, just great bottles. 9,869 Views Tasted Aug 27, 2013Showing deep ruby with bricking at the edges on the color, this stunning Chateau Margaux is filled with complex aromas of Cuban cigars, truffles, flowers, spice, ash, blackberries, tobacco, cassis, stone and fennel. In the mouth, the wine gushes over your palate with sensations of sweet crème de cassis, tobacco and roasted cherries. The silk and powerful finesse finish remains on your palate for over 60 seconds. This is already starting to show well at 15 years of age. This special Bordeaux wine has the fruit and structure needed to continue developing for at least another 20-30 or 40 years! 15,554 Views Tasted Jul 19, 2011Dark, opaque color, a complex, intoxicating perfume and layers of fruit that flow over your palate and senses! Absolutely compelling juice. Very primary, this was opened for educational purposes. In 15-20 years when fully mature, this will be an “Oh My God” wine and tasting experience! 8,113 Views Tasted Jul 1, 2006 |
When to Drink Chateau Margaux, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Margaux is not a wine to drink on the young side. The wine is usually far too tannic, powerful, and reserved during its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 3-6 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Margaux is usually better with at least 15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Margaux offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 18 and 60 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Margaux with Wine, Food, Pairings
Chateau Margaux is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Margaux is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Margaux is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
The white wine of Chateau Margaux, Pavillon Blanc can be paired perfectly with all types of seafood, shellfish, sushi, sashimi, veal, chicken, pork, and assorted cheeses.