1996 Wine and Port Vintage
Italian: 1996 was an outstanding vintage for Italian wines. In Piedmont, tricky weather all summer yielded to a period of hot and dry weather from mid-September through to mid-October. This enabled the late-ripening Nebbiolo to achieve a classic balance between fruit and structure. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are substantial on the palate and give every indication of a long life ahead, offering a superlative drinking experience if kept well. Like Piedmont, Tuscany had a cooler than average summer and this enabled a long, slow ripening of the grapes. The wines are richly aromatic, deeply coloured and abundantly fruity - making them brilliant 27 year old wine gifts for a birthday or anniversary.
Bordeaux: The 1996 vintage produced exceptional wines that broke all price records (until the 2000 vintage). The top wines reached full maturity a decade ago, but will keep for many more years.
Portugal: Although 1996 was one of the wettest years for port on record, the Douro region produced a large, abundant crop. The year was not declared as a Vintage, however a few good port wines were produced which are noted for being fruity and forward. A 1996 Vintage Port would make for an excellent 27 year old gift for a special anniversary this year.
Spain: A very good vintage for Spain, though less fine than the preceding two. The 1996 was particularly successful in Ribera del Duero, where ripe, relatively friendly wines were made.
This Year in History:
Fun Fact: The Hubble Space Telescope revealed images of Pluto’s surface for the first time.
Eurovision Winner: Ireland with the song "The Voice" by Eimar Quinn
Top Grossing Movie: Independence Day
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30 products found.
Brunello di Montalcino, 1996
Casanova delle Cerbaie
Brunello de Montalcino is one of Italys most famous and most expensive red wines. It is produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino located about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Florence in the Tuscany wine region. Brunello, roughly translated as "nice dark one" is the unofficial name of the clone of Sangiovese used in production.
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Price: $114.01 USD
Stock: Out of Stock
Merlot, 1996
Corvina, Arcadia, Veneto, Italy
An Italian red wine made by blending the international grape variety Merlot and the local Corvina. Corvina is the grape used to make Valpolicella, one of the region's specialities, which is harmoniously blended here with Merlot to give you a soft wine with a nose full of spiced raspberry fruit. On the palate it is brimming over with cherry, cranberry and mint.. The palate shows very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: $38.37 USD
Stock: Out of Stock
Pocas, 1996
Colheita (Single Harvest) Port
Includes Pocas open Gift Box
Medium intensity garnet colour with aromas of raisins, prunes, hazelnuts, cocoa, coffee, chocolate, oak, bitter orange, licorice and sweet spices. On the palate it is sweet, with medium body and medium acidity, soft tannins, lots of dried fruit and sweet spices.
Auburn color. Aroma of nuts and light smoke. Palate with high quality tannins and a long aromatic persistence.-92 pts Wine Spectator -
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Price: $47.34 USD
Stock: Out of Stock
Rosso Toscano, 1996
Balifico - Castello di Volpaia
Balifico, mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon for Volpaia’s Supertuscan. The first Supertuscans were created in the 1970s by Chianti Classico producers who rejected a restrictive government regulation that dictated which grapes were required to go into wines labeled as from the region.
As such, to identify those with superior quality, the international press informally introduced the term: Supertuscan. Nevertheless these high quality wines were soon acclaimed by the International press as Supertuscans.
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Price: $126.83 USD
Stock: Out of Stock
Taylor's Port, 1996
Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port
Very typical Taylor's style on the nose, rather reserved, spicy and stylish fruit. Gentle, and a lovely silkiness to at the start. Fine fruit, very stylish composition. Appropriate grip and texture. Lots of tannin evident on a second taste. This is rather good. From a Port Styles tasting. 16.5-17+/20 (Wine Doctor 2007).
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Price: $89.61 USD
Stock: Out of Stock