Wine and Port Vintage

The 1996 vintage produced exceptional wines across much of France and quickly gained a reputation for quality, with many of the top wines reaching full maturity over a decade ago while still retaining the ability to age further. In Bordeaux, it was a standout year for both red and white wines, including Sauternes. The finest red wines, particularly from the Left Bank (Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux), are structured, concentrated and classically styled, with firm tannins that have now softened into elegant, complex wines showing notes of cedar, cassis and spice.

Sauternes also enjoyed an excellent vintage, producing rich, balanced wines with both sweetness and freshness, offering exceptional longevity. In Champagne, a warm, dry summer with long periods of sunshine led to a high-quality harvest of slightly above-average size. The resulting wines are noted for their balance, precision and ageing potential, with many now drinking well while still capable of further development.

A cooler, unsettled summer gave way to warm, dry conditions from mid-September through to mid-October, allowing the late-ripening Nebbiolo grape to achieve an excellent balance of fruit and structure. The best wines are powerful yet refined, with depth, complexity and the potential for long ageing, offering a superb drinking experience today if well stored. In Tuscany, similarly cooler conditions led to a long, even ripening period, producing wines that are richly aromatic, deeply coloured and full of vibrant fruit character.

Although 1996 was one of the wettest years on record in the Douro, the region still produced a large and abundant crop. The year was not declared as a Vintage, however a number of good Ports were made, typically showing a fruit-forward and accessible style. Aged Tawny and Single Harvest (Colheita) Ports from this vintage are now showing particularly well, offering a smooth, balanced and reliable option for drinking now.