1996 Cinq Cepages Proprietary Red
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Wine Spectator named this the top wine in the world in 1999, with price (then $28) and production (11,300 cases) adding to its cachet. Cinq Cepages is now a benchmark Sonoma County Cab, and this one holds up beautifully, with its rich cassis and dark plum character intact, enhanced by complexing notes of sandalwood, licorice, creamy vanilla and tingly acidity. On release, 1996 California Cabs were under-valued, yet today, many, like this wine, show spectacularly.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The dark ruby/purple-colored 1996 Cinq Cepages (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot) exhibits a moderately intense nose of black cherries, chocolate, smoke, dried herbs, and toasty oak. As reported last year, it appears to be California's version of a big, rich St.-Emilion. Offering elegance and finesse along with copious quantities of fruit, glycerin, and flavor, this medium to full-bodied wine has evolved nicely over the last year, and can be drunk now as well as over the next 12-15 years. Kudos to winemaker Steve Reedy and Beringer for what they have accomplished at Chateau St. Jean. Tel. (707) 833-4134; fax (707) 833-4200
The dark ruby/purple-colored 1996 Cinq Cepages (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot) exhibits a moderately intense nose of black cherries, chocolate, smoke, dried herbs, and toasty oak. As reported last year, it appears to be California's version of a big, rich St.-Emilion. Offering elegance and finesse along with copious quantities of fruit, glycerin, and flavor, this medium to full-bodied wine has evolved nicely over the last year, and can be drunk now as well as over the next 12-15 years.||Kudos to winemaker Steve Reedy and Beringer for what they have accomplished at Chateau St. Jean. Tel. (707) 833-4134; fax (707) 833-4200 Wine Advocate.February, 2000
Full ruby-red. Expressive aromas of raspberry, truffle, game, tobacco, sweet butter and scotch. Sweet, lush and fat, verging on confectionary. Palate dominated by coffee grounds, mocha and exotic oak tones. Finishes with aggressive, pungent oak tannins that grew drier with aeration.