Château La Lagune 1996

Pretty aromas of berry and vanilla, with a hint of mineral. Medium-bodied, with chewy tannins but a slight herbal edge to the aftertaste. A bit one-dimensional for La Lagune, but still a good bottle. Best after 2000. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 25,000 cases made.

Mid crimson. Slightly weak rim. Fully evolved, not desperately layered nose. Rather dry tannins on the finish. As ready as it will ever be probably as the fruit is not especially intense. (JR)

More saturated ruby-red. Deep, enticing aromas of black raspberry, dark chocolate and spicy oak; shows an almost roasted ripeness. Big, sweet and rich; a rather powerful style of La Lagune, with urgent intensity of flavor. Lovely inner-mouth aromatics. Finishes very long, with harmonious, ripe tannins.

97: Brightening garnet, watery rim. Spicy bouquet, fine woods, with a floral note. On the palate medium-weight, focused on elegance, sour cherries and a pleasant sweetness from the extract, nicely long, but not sufficiently concentrated in terms of stature. 16/20 2002–2017

Airy bouquet with red berries. Hard, dry taste with lots of tannins. Long finish. 15/20

It shows a classic profile, dominated by its Cabernet varieties, with a palate that is a little firm, but with lovely depth and good structure. Beautifully straight and focused.

The bouquet is quite classic, with notes of undergrowth and raspberries followed by vetiver. It’s clear that elegance was the aim for this wine, especially in the lively, appetizing attack. However, it no longer has much flesh. The muscle is there, but the wine suffers from it, particularly in terms of balance.

This is a tannic, austere 1996, but it is well-endowed. Copious aromas of spicy new oak are present in the moderately intense bouquet, as well as cherry notes intertwined with dried herbs. The wine is medium-bodied and well-made, with good spice, a slight austerity, and moderate tannin in the long finish. In many vintages La Lagune can be drunk at an early age, but this effort will require 5-6 years of patience. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018.