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1996 Reignac, Still Going Strong
By perryd | January 27, 2008
Bordeaux Superior typically isn’t designed to last more than a few years, but what a pleasant surprise it was to taste the 1996 Reignac, which continues to age like a more prestigious growth. I am a big fan of Yves and Stefanie Vatelot and what they’ve done with this small estate since buying it in 1990. What started out good got significantly better when Michel Rolland was brought in to consult a few years later. Grapes are picked and sorted by hand, yields are kept low, and excruciating attention is paid to every step of the process.
Reignac is around 75% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. It is simply delicious in every vintage, with 2000 and 2001 being quite remarkable. The 2005 needs at least one more year in the bottle for my taste.
But back to the 1996. It’s starting to tinge around the edges to a nice maroon, and the spicier component…cedar, tobacco…are starting to overpower the fruit. But it still has that delicious, smooth, well-balanced tasted that Reignac delivers every year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it stays at this level for another three or four years.
The good news for buyers is that most 1996 Bordeaux Superiors are in fact over the hill, so you might find Reignac lumped in with them in the bargain bin. It will be in the $10 to $15 range if you find it. More recent vintages are trending toward $40 to $50 per bottle, though the 2005 is less.
Topics: Wine |
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