In an age of global warming, the 1996 vintage may have produced the last great Beychevelle under thirteen percent alcohol, as this wine tips the scales at a very, very civilized 12.8 percent. This is a deep, pure and very classic vintage of Beychevelle and it will take plenty of time to come around. The stunning nose offers up a beautiful mélange of roasted cherries, dark berries, cigar smoke, fresh herbs, coffee, gravelly soil tones that show a bit of iron inflection and a bit of remaining cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and laser-like in its focus, with a rock solid core of pure fruit, a great expression of terroir, ripe, moderate tannins, sound acids and outstanding length and grip on the still quite youthful finish. The 1996 Beychevelle offers up superb potential, but it will need at least another decade in the cellar to start to stir.

Ripe red fruits, good lift and concentration even at close to 30 years old. Cigar box, black tea, soy, smoked earth, mushroom, campfire and black truffle, great quality if a little less mouthwatering than the 1986, more angular at this point with plenty of life ahead of it. An excellent vintage in the Médoc that is coming into its own at the moment. Philippe Blanc's first year at Beychevelle.