1996 Wine from France

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Hints of oyster shell and truffle mark the age of this satiny Champagne, but there's still enough well-knit acidity to keep this fresh, focusing the subtle notes of toasted almond, dried golden currant, fleur de sel and...

Wine Spectator, 96 points: This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 93 points: Bright red. Fresh floral, white pepper, raspberry and strawberry aromas on the captivating nose, lifted by minerals and Oriental spices. Very fresh, balanced and pure on the palate, with bright red berry, floral and...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 90 points: Deep ruby-red. Floral, spicy aromas of black cherry, licorice and shoe polish. Thick and dense, with lovely sweetness and inner-mouth flavor. Boasts more volume than either the '98 or '97. Finishes thoroughly ripe, with...