93+ points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "Saturated ruby-red. Pure, highly perfumed aromas of black cherry, currant, plum, minerals, tobacco, leather and fresh herbs. Very ripe, suave and spicy; at once subtle and gripping. Lovely cabernet character dominating today. Very firm, long finish is youthful but not hard-edged. Showing extremely well. (Jul/Aug 2002)"
93 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Racy cedar aromas, long, fresh, and distinguished, but a slight lack of vinosity. Drink: 2011 up to 2016. (2011)"
92 points Robert Parker: "The 1996 may not be as profound as I had predicted from cask, but it is an exceptional wine. Dark ruby-colored, with a complex nose of dried herbs, Asian spices, and black cherry jam intermixed with cassis, it possesses outstanding purity, and considerable tannin in the finish. This classic, medium to full-bodied, traditionally made wine improves dramatically with airing, suggesting it will have a very long life. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2028. (Apr 1999)"
92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "Along with the 2001, the 1996 vintage at Calon-Ségur is one of my favorite from the merlot-centric era at the estate, probably because the vintage favored cabernet sauvignon so clearly in the Médoc and a bit more of this grape was included in the blend at Calon in this vintage. The bouquet is deep, vibrant and youthfully precise, wafting from the glass in a mix of cassis, dark berries, cigar ash, dark soil tones, a touch of curry and a gentle framing of cedary wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and impressively tangy, with a fine core of fruit, currently a quite tightly-knit personality, well-integrated tannins and very, very good length and grip on the focused and still quite youthful finish. This is going to be a lovely wine in another eight to ten years’ time and should prove to be quite long-lived. I love to imagine what the current team at Calon would have done with a vintage such as 1996 today! 2020-2050+. (Jan/Feb 2014)"
93 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Racy cedar aromas, long, fresh, and distinguished, but a slight lack of vinosity. Drink: 2011 up to 2016. (2011)"
92 points Robert Parker: "The 1996 may not be as profound as I had predicted from cask, but it is an exceptional wine. Dark ruby-colored, with a complex nose of dried herbs, Asian spices, and black cherry jam intermixed with cassis, it possesses outstanding purity, and considerable tannin in the finish. This classic, medium to full-bodied, traditionally made wine improves dramatically with airing, suggesting it will have a very long life. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2028. (Apr 1999)"
92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "Along with the 2001, the 1996 vintage at Calon-Ségur is one of my favorite from the merlot-centric era at the estate, probably because the vintage favored cabernet sauvignon so clearly in the Médoc and a bit more of this grape was included in the blend at Calon in this vintage. The bouquet is deep, vibrant and youthfully precise, wafting from the glass in a mix of cassis, dark berries, cigar ash, dark soil tones, a touch of curry and a gentle framing of cedary wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and impressively tangy, with a fine core of fruit, currently a quite tightly-knit personality, well-integrated tannins and very, very good length and grip on the focused and still quite youthful finish. This is going to be a lovely wine in another eight to ten years’ time and should prove to be quite long-lived. I love to imagine what the current team at Calon would have done with a vintage such as 1996 today! 2020-2050+. (Jan/Feb 2014)"
| Product SKU | 305367 |
| Producer | Calon-Sègur |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| SubRegion | Left Bank |
| Appellation | St-Estèphe |
| Varietal | Cabernet/Bordeaux Blends |
| Vintage | 1996 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 12.5% |
| Ships To |
