Reflections on the 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux Retrospective

Thirty years on, the 1996 Left Bank remains a benchmark for structure. Our retrospective tasting brought eleven bottles to the table, and the consensus was clear: the wines are only now entering their long plateau.

Tannins that once seemed austere have resolved into fine grain, while the acidity — the defining trait of the vintage — keeps the fruit lifted rather than stewed.