Since the 17th Century, the grand vin of Chateau Margaux has been recognized as one of the greatest wines in the entire world. It owes its unique qualities to the genius of its terroir as well as to the passionate work of a succession of generations. It’s a remarkable wine that comes from a combination of characteristics that are only rarely found: finesse, elegance, complexity, density, intensity, length and freshness. Although its tannic concentration may be exceptional, it’s rare to detect astringency.

The great vintages are distinguished by their formidable ability to move us, while the lesser vintages give pleasure to wine enthusiasts. Chateau Margaux has an extraordinary ability to evolve with age, developing finesse, aromatic aromatic complexity, and a remarkable presence on the palate.

The 1996 Château Margaux is a Bordeaux blend from the renowned Château Margaux estate in the Bordeaux region of France. This red wine, sealed with a traditional cork, has an alcohol content of 12.5%. It has garnered exceptional reviews from numerous wine critics, indicating its high quality and lasting appeal.

According to Neal Martin from Vinous, the 1996 Château Margaux is "one of the pinnacles during Paul Pontallier's illustrious tenure." Martin praises its "fabulous tension and freshness," noting its "mineralité" and "subtle pressed flower/violet scents." He emphasizes the wine's balance, describing it as having "unerring symmetry" and "filigree tannin" with "lovely acidity." Martin concludes that this wine may well be the Left Bank pinnacle of the 1990s.

Jane Anson from janeanson.com, awarded the wine a perfect score and describes it as "one of the wines of 20th century Bordeaux." She highlights its "floral edges, gunsmoke, peony, gentle intensity," and "subtle intensity," praising its "sweet fruit and silky tannins." Anson notes that it delivers every time she tastes it.

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com, also gives the wine an excellent review with a score of 99, noting its potential to reach a perfect score in the future. Leve mentions the wine's growing complexity and richness, describing it as having "additional layers of silk and velvet on the palate." He also points out that it is the best deal for a mature vintage of Château Margaux in the market today.

Jeb Dunnuck from jebdunnuck.com, scores the wine 97 and highlights its "hallmark elegance and purity paired with a dense, powerful profile." He describes the wine as "pure class" and a "quintessential Margaux," recommending an additional 4-5 years of aging for optimal enjoyment.

William Kelley from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, gives the wine a score of 98. Kelley recalls initially being unimpressed by the wine, but recent tastings have changed his opinion. He describes the wine as having an "expressive bouquet of creamy cassis fruit" and "melting tannins," with a "long, expansive finish."

Wine Spectator's review by JM, scores the wine 95, describing it as "fully formed" with notes of "steeped currant and black tea," and a "long, suave finish" that exudes "grace and elegance."

Lastly, Decanter's review, also awards the wine a perfect score. The review mentions "softly spoken, fine tannins, pencil lead and leather," with a "long drawn out finish" and notes of "crushed stone, tobacco and dried roses." It highlights the wine's readiness to drink while suggesting it will continue to age gracefully.

Overall, the 1996 Château Margaux is highly acclaimed for its balance, complexity, and elegance, making it a standout vintage in the history of Bordeaux wines.