1996 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 1996 Beau-Séjour Bécot was picked between 30 September and 8 October. Now this is much more enticing on the nose compared to the 1995 because it is unequivocally more vibrant and energetic with perfumed red berry fruit laced with crushed violets, cola and just a hint of sage. The palate is medium-bodied with quite sturdy tannin, more body than the 1995 but now just showing a touch of dryness towards the finish. I suspect that this was better a few years ago, but I appreciate the spicy aftertaste here. Tasted at the château.
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Very purple. Oak. Tight. Still too oaky! (JR)
The lavishly-oaked, hedonistically-styled 1996 exhibits a dark plum/purple color. The nose offers up sweet jammy fruit (primarily black currants and cherries) intermixed with toasty new oak. Medium-bodied, with excellent, nearly outstanding richness, a nicely-layered mid-palate, and sweet tannin in the long finish, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age, and should last for 15+ years.
An extremely well-done '96. Lovely combination of crushed berries and exotic spices. Medium-bodied, with a pretty balance of fruit and tannins. Best after 2000. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 1999