1996 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1996 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1996 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
The 1996 year was, overall, fantastic for much of Europe, and particularly France. Bordeaux had an incredible vintage for both dry reds and whites and Sauternes. In Italy, Piedmont enjoyed a dazzling year. For drinking now, look to Bordeaux, Sauternes, Burgundy or Barolo. There should still be a wide range of exceptional options still drinking well now to choose from.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
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
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.
Champagne: A dry summer with long bursts of sunshine produced a very high quality harvest of slightly above average size.
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.
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 29 year old wine gift for a special anniversary this year.
Sauternes: Bordeaux had an incredible vintage for both dry reds and whites and Sauternes. The shining stars of could mostly, bar the odd exception, be found among the Left Bank estates.
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.
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19 products found.
Burmester, 1996
Vintage Port in Gift Box
This 1996 Burmester Vintage Port from the fabulous 1996 Port Vintage has outstanding provenance! This bottle has been stored at the Burmester cellars in Porto since bottling, until it was acquired by us earlier this year.
The 1996 Burmester is a beautiful mature garnet colour. On the nose it has cocoa, chocolate together with a hint of mint. On the palate this is quite complex - medium bodied with a perfect balance between the acidity, tannins and flavours, there is a little spiciness in the mouth that adds to the experience. Long, long finish. This is in a good place and should hold well for the next decade or so. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 39 in Stock
Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1996
Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
50cl bottle
Includes original orange colour cardboard gift box
The 1996 Ryst-Dupeyron is an Armagnac, a type of brandy from the Gascony region in southwest France. Armagnac is one of the oldest distilled spirits in France, with a rich history dating back to the 14th century.
Tasting Notes
A vintage Armagnac like the 1996 would have been aged for a significant period before being bottled. Typically, it should display and complex flavour profile with notes of dried fruits, vanilla, spices, and sometimes a hint of smokiness. The exact flavours can vary based on the terroir, grape varieties used, and the aging process.
Serving & Food Pairing
Armagnac is traditionally enjoyed neat, allowing you to fully appreciate its complexity. …
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Price: £68.95
Stock: 36 in Stock
J W Hart, 1996
Colheita Port
150cl Bottle
This 1996 J W Hart Tawny Colheita is elegant and complex. An amalgamation of rich flavours is marked by the presence of dried fruits, with a burst of freshness in red cherries enhanced by an exuberant note of spice. Perfect for pairing with an exquisite salted caramel tart.
Colheita Port Storage and Serving Advice:
Colheita Port should be stored in a cool and dry place, sheltered from light and temperature fluctuations, and the bottle should remain in an upright position. If stored correctly, Colheita Ports will keep for decades in the bottle. Over time, it is natural that a little sediment will form at the bottom of a bottle of colheita Port wine. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 7 in Stock
Chateau Guiraud, 1996
Sauternes
This is a classic Sauternes with a great deal of sweetness, plenty of ripeness, and obvious aromas of toasty, smoky new oak. The wine exhibits finesse and complexity, a style of Sauternes that will have its admirers, particularly among those who like to drink these wines as an aperitif.
Château Guiraud is a renowned wine estate located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has established itself as a leading producer of prestigious sweet wines. Spanning approximately 100 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a unique terroir characterized by gravelly, sandy, and limestone soils, ideal for cultivating Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by noble rot. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 6 in Stock
Chateau Kirwan, 1996
Margaux 3rd Growth Classification
"The 1996 Kirwan is a highly-extracted, rich, medium-bodied wine with a deep ruby/purple colour, and ripe cassis fruit intermixed with a touch of new oak, prunes, and spice. The wine has come together nicely since I first tasted it from cask. It appears to be an excellent, nearly outstanding effort. There is moderate tannin in the finish, so give this beefy, rich, muscular wine 6-7 years of cellaring. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #122, Apr 1999
Rating 88/100
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 8 in Stock
Chateau Lamothe Guignard, 1996
Sauternes
The 1996 Château Lamothe-Guignard from Sauternes is a beautiful representation of a classic sweet Bordeaux, known for its balance of sweetness, acidity, and rich flavors. This vintage saw favorable weather conditions that allowed for the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), essential for creating the complex, honeyed character that Sauternes wines are celebrated for.
In the glass, this 1996 Lamothe-Guignard shows a rich golden hue, which has deepened over the years. On the nose, it opens with aromas of ripe apricot, honey, and tropical fruit, layered with notes of vanilla, almond, and a hint of spice. …
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Price: £39.95
Stock: 10 in Stock
Chateau Leoville Barton, 1996
St Julien 2eme Cru Classe
Château Léoville Barton 1996 is a stunning example of Saint-Julien’s timeless elegance and power. This vintage presents an alluring bouquet of blackcurrant, cedar, and earthy tobacco, with subtle hints of leather and pencil shavings that develop beautifully with age. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a firm structure, supported by finely grained tannins that have softened gracefully over the years. Layers of dark fruit, spice, and minerality unfold, leading to a long, refined finish that’s both vibrant and complex. This wine is a classic Bordeaux from an excellent vintage, still showing remarkable freshness and precision, and has plenty of life left for further aging. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Chateau Marquis de Terme, 1996
Margaux, 4th Growth Classification
A very tannic, structured wine with an opaque purple color and a sweet creme de cassis nose intermixed with damp earth, vanilla, and licorice, this relatively massive wine has mouth-searing levels of tannin, medium body, and a very backward style that will require considerable patience from its buyers.
Château Marquis de Terme stands as a venerable emblem of the Margaux appellation within Bordeaux, France. Rooted in a storied history tracing back to the 12th century, this esteemed estate has evolved into a paragon of fine winemaking. Renowned for its meticulous vineyard management and dedication to crafting wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region, …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Pavie Macquin, 1996
St. Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux
The Château Pavie Macquin 1996 is a wine from Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, produced by an estate renowned for its focus on terroir-driven, expressive wines. Though the 1996 vintage was more celebrated on the Left Bank due to favorable conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, the Right Bank, with its Merlot-dominated blends, also produced wines of finesse and structure, particularly from estates like Pavie Macquin, known for meticulous vineyard management.
Wine Overview
Château Pavie Macquin is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) and is known for its concentrated and age-worthy wines. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 12 in Stock
Chateau Siran, 1996
Margaux Cru Bourgeois
From the very good 1996 vintage this Chateau Siran has a beautiful mature bouquet with black currants, tobacco and bitterness. Juicy, good sweet and bitterness. The aftertaste is not extremely long, but has good sweetness and even some good tannin. Although completely mature there is some power left and this wine is a true pleasure to drink.
About Château Siran, Chateau Siran is nestled in the heart of the Margaux appellation within Bordeaux, France, is a historic estate renowned for its elegant wines and rich heritage. With a history dating back to the 17th century, this picturesque property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Miailhe family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Chateauneuf du Pape, 1996
Domaine Vieux Telegraphe "la Crau", Rhone
Very bin soiled labels
The 1996 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau", from the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the Southern Rhône, is a classic and well-regarded wine. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is one of the most iconic producers in the region, and their La Crau bottling, sourced from the rocky plateau of the same name, is known for its power, depth, and aging potential.
Vintage Overview
1996 Rhône Vintage: A cooler, less consistent vintage in the Rhône, with better results in the Southern Rhône than in the north. Wines from this vintage tend to emphasize finesse, balance, and elegance rather than power. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Delamain Cognac, 1996
Grand Champagne Cognac
A 1996 vintage cognac from Delamain, using first growth grapes from Mainxe. It was matured in their hallowed Vintage Cellar in Jarnac for before selection and bottling.
The family-run house of Delamain is one of the oldest Cognac producers, founded in 1762. The company is rare in that it produces no VS or VSOP Cognac, and also chooses to reduce bottle strengths down to 40% abv with 'faibles' (old, low-strength Cognacs) rather than with water.
Learn more about Cognac
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Price: £185.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Justino's Madeira, 1996
Justino's - Tinta Negra Madeira
The wine has a dark amber color with a lucid and consistent yellow edge. More than a Marsala, the impact of the aroma is like a great Viccotto from the Marche region, although it is much finer. The bouquet has less caramel and is less volatile with more notes of prune, dried fruit and bitter coffee. The mouthfeel is sweet and caramel-like with notes of black tea and coffee, while the finish is invigorated by a distinct acidity.
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 41 in Stock
Lago di Caldaro, 1996
Colterenzio
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Quinta de la Rosa, 1996
Vintage Port
Quinta de La Rosa is a small estate in the heart of the Port wine-growing region in Alto Douro, near Pinhao, owned and operated by the Bergqvist family.
The Quinta and its vineyards were given to the Bergqvist family as a Christening present by the Feuerheerds, who established the property in 1906.
It remains one of the few Single Quinta where the vineyards start at the bank of the Douro and rise 450 meters to the towering top of the mountain. From the river's edge to the top, one passes through 11 different microclimates. This gives La Rosa great flexibility to add variety and complexity to its Ports. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 19 in Stock
Quinta do Noval Nacional, 1996
Vintage Port
This wine is a mysterious phenomenon, a magical wine produced in extremely limited quantities and only in a few years each decade. It is the expression of a terroir and confirms something that is for me a deeply held belief. The Nacional is great because of the grapes and where they come from, not because of anything particular that we do. It has a unique personality, an extraordinary intensity and, even after many years of ageing, retains an astonishing youthfulness.
Learn more about Quinta do Noval
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Price: £995.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Quinta do Vesuvio, 1996
Vintage Port
Quinta do Vesuvio never fails to impress and their 1996 Vintage Port showcases all the characteristic weight and depth of the Symingtons' best single property: The palate reveals excellent richness, layers of flavour, well-balanced tannin, and a persistent, satisfying finish. Intense and ample, it should drink well for the next years to 2025.
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 10 in Stock
Sanford, 1996
Pinot Noir, Rita Hills, Santa Barbara
A long, moderate growing season allowed for even ripening of the fruit resulting in a wine with soft, ripe tannins and wonderful balance. This impressive Pinot Noir offers wild strawberry fruit, cola, clove spice, a hint of black pepper, and just the right touch of toasty oak. Now fully mature, this wine would not benefit from further ageing.
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 5 in Stock
Sanford, 1996
Pinot Noir, Rita Hills, Santa Barbara
A long, moderate growing season allowed for even ripening of the fruit resulting in a wine with soft, ripe tannins and wonderful balance. This impressive Pinot Noir offers wild strawberry fruit, cola, clove spice, a hint of black pepper, and just the right touch of toasty oak. Now fully mature, this wine would not benefit from further ageing.
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 2 in Stock