Chateau Latour-Martillac 1996

La Tour-Martillac's 1996 is a medium-bodied, straightforward wine with good spice, moderate fruit, and a simple personality. There is some tannin, but the wine is light. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2008.

Green peppers, with some earth. Hard to like the nose. Medium-bodied, with vegetal character. Fading.—'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective.

Medium purple. A gorgeous, sweet, tightly knit bouquet of cedar and plum, with notes of dried fruits. On the palate, it’s supple with a velvety texture, plenty of aromatics, and a very long finish with a gently smoky Cabernet flavor.

97: Barrel sample (15/20): Very earthy, rather muted bouquet, currently with little fruit. Firm palate, melting on the outside, more fruit than on the nose, slightly inky, almost a touch piquant extract, with a floral, cool finish. 00: Medium purple. Gorgeous, sweet, tightly knit cedar and plum bouquet, with a dried-fruit note. On the palate, soft with a velvety texture, lots of aromatics, and a very persistent, smoky Cabernet flavor. 17/20 2002 – 2014

Hollow, harsh bouquet. Slightly dry on the palate, with gritty tannins. Short finish. 16/20