The 1996 Richebourg Grand Cru is drinking beautifully and might actually surpass La Tâche in this vintage; certainly, I have yet to drink a 1996 La Tâche as good as this particular bottle of Richebourg. Wafting from the glass with an inviting bouquet of plummy fruit mingled with wilted rose petals, peonies, exotic spices, orange rind and forest floor, it's full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with none of the vintage's tendency toward asperity in evidence, exhibiting melting tannins and a seamless, velvety profile. This is really beginning to show well today. - William Kelley

The 1996 Richebourg Grand Cru is a wine that I have drunk several times. The intense nose has opened a little since my last encounter, evolving to offer enticing scents of violet and earthenware notes; a hint of brine emerges with time. The palate is as introverted as previous bottles but opens with blackberry, meat juices and briar. There is quite a sharp line of acidity that keeps it edgy in style, and still that persistent finish. Superb. Tasted at the domaine with Bertrand de Villaine. -- Neal Martin

Full-bodied, showing gorgeous fruit, this is very intense. It holds your attention as it settles its foundations into the palate, tightening its grip with seductive cassis, blackberry, fresh acidity and terrific floral character. A tamed monster. Drink now through 2026. — PM

A gorgeous, spicy and expressive nose of mostly black fruit aromas combines with rich, sweet and still tight medium full and quite firmly structured flavors that possess a long though slightly edgy and austere finish. Note that this bottle showed better than the one reviewed in the big Richebourg retrospective held in October, 2001. I would not touch another bottle for at least 3 to 5 years and this easily has 20 year+ potential as it will require a long time to completely unwind. Tasted on multiple occasions with consistent notes. 2021+