1996 Ch. Beauséjour

It appears that I overestimated the quality of this wine. I was only able to taste it once out of bottle, but it seemed to have very little of the multidimensional concentration and intensity I had indicated from cask. The wine is dark ruby-colored, with the tell-tale attractive black raspberry, pronounced mineral characteristics this small vineyard produces. The wine was lighter and more angular than in cask tastings, with dry, astringent tannin in the moderately long finish. It is very good, but it is not outstanding, as I had expected it to be. Moreover, the 1996 Beausejour-Duffau will have a tendency to dry out given the way the tannin is behaving. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015.

Really well done for the vintage. Complex aromas of berries, tobacco and grilled meats. Medium-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, succulent finish. Best after 2000. 5,000 cases made. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 1999

Gunpowder/spicy smell. Fruit a little dead.www.jancisrobinson.com, 15 Aug 2007