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Bordeaux 1996

Following the triumvirate of successful vintages for Bordeaux spanning the years 1988-1990, the region suffered a number of disappointing vintages, particularly 1991 and 1992 (although as always there were a tiny number of chateaux that still managed to turn out a respectable wine, although they are very few and far between). In fact, none of the vintages throughout the 1990s matched the success of these earlier years. It is a marked contrast to the picture today, where nearly every other year is a potential Vintage of the Century, it seems. Consequently, the success of Bordeaux 2000 - and subsequent vintages - meant that (for while at least) many wines from the 1990s were available for a song, as prices for subsequent vintages climbed ever skywards, and both wine drinkers and wine investors pour their money into these new vintages.

Vintage Review

One important vintage from this decade is 1996. This was a vintage that received very positive comments from some quarters upon release, although many critics have since downgraded their scores and opinions of these wines. Nevertheless, 1996 is a classic left bank vintage, as the ripening conditions and harvest favoured the Cabernet Sauvignon which is the dominant grape for the left bank appellations of St Estèphe, Pauillac, Moulis, Listrac, St Julien, Margaux and the rest of the Médoc (see my Bordeaux wine guide for more on the communes of Bordeaux).

The weather conditions in 1996, which were unusual to say the least, particularly favoured the appellations at the northern end of the Médoc. Following a wet and mild winter, a hot and dry June ensured rapid and uniform flowering, raising hopes for a plentiful crop. Unfortunately, heavy rain in early July and late August dampened much of this early enthusiasm. Not so in St Julien and further north, however, regions which had been spared the heavy rains and consequently had more healthy, concentrated grapes on the vines. For those that did suffer the rains, a windy September gave some consolation as the vineyards at least dried out quickly.

Harvest of the Merlot from the right bank began on September 16th, and lasted as always for several weeks. Light showers followed by heavy rain on September 24th and 25th diluted the harvest. On the left bank, conditions were more favourable. There was dry and sunny weather throughout the harvest, which ran from late September through to October 10th, marred only by some rain on October 4th. This, combined with the weather patterns throughout the growing season, means that 1996 is a year for purchasing left bank wines, preferably those of the northern Médoc. (12/7/01)