"The 1996 Beychevelle was served from double magnum at the property. The nose is fully mature with touches of mushroom, leather and sous-bois, though not quite as complex as say the 1996 Ducru Beaucaillou. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, though it is not as refined or as nuanced as its peers. This is from a period where I think that Beychevelle was not firing on all cylinders and I have been scathing with my reviews in the past. Even here it lags behind its peers, something that I feel has been rectified in recent vintages by Philippe Blanc and his team. Tasted July 2016."
Neal Martin 86 Punkte
"Beychevelle's 1996 reveals an evolved, dark plum color. The nose offers toasty new oak in an open, charming style with berry fruit intermixed with spice. It is an uninspiring example, particularly for such a top-notch terroir, but the wine is medium-bodied and cleanly made, with moderate longevity. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2012."
Robert Parker 86 Punkte
"Slightly sweeter Cabernet Sauvignon fruit distinguishes the 1996 from the 1995. It reveals medium body, good but not terrific ripeness, clean winemaking, and toasty oak. It provides a narrowly constructed, elegant, but unmoving drinking experience. There is firm tannin in the finish, so bottle age may help a bit. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2015. This wine did not perform as well as I hoped. It has the potential to be one to two points better, but after tasting it several times, it appears to be a good but uninspiring effort."
Robert Parker 85-86 Punkte
Quelle: www.robertparker.com