Verkostungsnotizen
Vinous 91-92
Saturated ruby-red color. Lively aromas of black raspberry, black plum and smoky, spicy oak. Supple and very intensely flavored; not as fleshy or fat as the ’95 but seamless. Again, has plenty of firming acidity. Finishes with tongue-dusting tannins and persistent spicy flavor. From a just-racked barrel: More precise nose hints at violet. Lush and suave in the mouth; seems fatter but every bit as fresh.
Robert Parker 89
Tasted blind at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 1996 Valandraud has quite an ostentatious bouquet with copious menthol-tinged red fruit, light peppermint notes – all atypical for this growing season. It might by a little heady but it is feels nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with an impressive weight in the mouth, lightly spiced red berry fruit, quite ferrous, almost Pomerol-like with a focused brown spice-tinged finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. It loses some of its harmony towards the finish, becomes loose and lacks the depth of grip of the 1995 Valandraud. There are attractive, light tobacco and white pepper notes lingering on the aftertaste. Drink over the next 4-5 years. Tasted December 2016.
Anticipated maturity: 2017-2022
