1996 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1996 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1996 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
The 1996 year was, overall, fantastic for much of Europe, and particularly France. Bordeaux had an incredible vintage for both dry reds and whites and Sauternes. In Italy, Piedmont enjoyed a dazzling year. For drinking now, look to Bordeaux, Sauternes, Burgundy or Barolo. There should still be a wide range of exceptional options still drinking well now to choose from. Any of these 1996 vintage would make a fabulous 20 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The Hubble Space Telescope revealed images of Pluto’s surface for the first time.
Eurovision Winner: Ireland with the song "The Voice" by Eimar Quinn
Top Grossing Movie: Independence Day
Bordeaux: The 1996 vintage produced exceptional wines that broke all price records (until the 2000 vintage). The top wines reached full maturity a decade ago, but will keep for many more years.
Champagne: A dry summer with long bursts of sunshine produced a very high quality harvest of slightly above average size.
Italian: 1996 was an outstanding vintage for Italian wines. In Piedmont, tricky weather all summer yielded to a period of hot and dry weather from mid-September through to mid-October. This enabled the late-ripening Nebbiolo to achieve a classic balance between fruit and structure. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are substantial on the palate and give every indication of a long life ahead, offering a superlative drinking experience if kept well. Like Piedmont, Tuscany had a cooler than average summer and this enabled a long, slow ripening of the grapes. The wines are richly aromatic, deeply coloured and abundantly fruity - making them brilliant 27 year old wine gifts for a birthday or anniversary.
Portugal: Although 1996 was one of the wettest years for port on record, the Douro region produced a large, abundant crop. The year was not declared as a Vintage, however a few good port wines were produced which are noted for being fruity and forward. A 1996 Vintage Port would make for an excellent 29 year old wine gift for a special anniversary this year.
Sauternes: Bordeaux had an incredible vintage for both dry reds and whites and Sauternes. The shining stars of could mostly, bar the odd exception, be found among the Left Bank estates.
Spain: A very good vintage for Spain, though less fine than the preceding two. The 1996 was particularly successful in Ribera del Duero, where ripe, relatively friendly wines were made.
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32 products found.
Quinta do Noval Nacional, 1996
Vintage Port
This wine is a mysterious phenomenon, a magical wine produced in extremely limited quantities and only in a few years each decade. It is the expression of a terroir and confirms something that is for me a deeply held belief. The Nacional is great because of the grapes and where they come from, not because of anything particular that we do. It has a unique personality, an extraordinary intensity and, even after many years of ageing, retains an astonishing youthfulness.
Learn more about Quinta do Noval
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Price: £995.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Quinta do Vesuvio, 1996
Vintage Port
Quinta do Vesuvio never fails to impress and their 1996 Vintage Port showcases all the characteristic weight and depth of the Symingtons' best single property: The palate reveals excellent richness, layers of flavour, well-balanced tannin, and a persistent, satisfying finish. Intense and ample, it should drink well for the next years to 2025.
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 9 in Stock
Sanford, 1996
Pinot Noir, Rita Hills, Santa Barbara
A long, moderate growing season allowed for even ripening of the fruit resulting in a wine with soft, ripe tannins and wonderful balance. This impressive Pinot Noir offers wild strawberry fruit, cola, clove spice, a hint of black pepper, and just the right touch of toasty oak. Now fully mature, this wine would not benefit from further ageing.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Chateauneuf du Pape, 1996
Domaine Vieux Telegraphe "la Crau", Rhone
Very bin soiled labels
The 1996 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau", from the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the Southern Rhône, is a classic and well-regarded wine. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is one of the most iconic producers in the region, and their La Crau bottling, sourced from the rocky plateau of the same name, is known for its power, depth, and aging potential.
Vintage Overview
1996 Rhône Vintage: A cooler, less consistent vintage in the Rhône, with better results in the Southern Rhône than in the north. Wines from this vintage tend to emphasize finesse, balance, and elegance rather than power. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Ferreira
Ferreira `Dona Antónia` 30-Year-Old Tawny Port
Decanter Presented In Gift Box
***95 Points-GOLD- Decanter World Wine Awards***
***95 Points- GOLD MEDAL- IWC 2024***
The Dona Antonia 30-Year-Old Tawny Port by Ferreira is a luxurious and complex wine, showcasing the mastery of the tawny port-making craft.
Tasting Notes
This luxurious and complex wine shows rich and inviting aromas with a blend of dried fruit, nutty aromas, and wood notes. On the palate, it has a velvety texture and a symphony of flavors, with layers of caramelized sugar, toffee, honeyed sweetness, and dark chocolate.The finish is long and lingering, with the wine's myriad flavors unfolding gradually and leaving a lasting impression. Subtle echoes of dried fruit, nuts, and spices linger on the palate, inviting contemplation and reflection. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Sandeman
30 Year Old Tawny Port
***95 Points- Gold- Decanter 2024***
***96 Points GOLD Award- IWC 2024***
Presented in Sandeman Gift Box
Sandeman is a regular IWC and Decanter World Wine Awards Gold- and Trophy-winner for its supremely refined tawnies. A premium aged tawny port, meticulously crafted and aged in oak casks for an average of 30 years.
Tasting Notes
The Sandeman 30 Year Old Tawny Port is of a deep amber amber colour with intense aromas of honey and spices, underscored with deep flavours of dried apricots, hazelnuts and vanilla, creating a rich yet elegant combination. Luxuriously smooth and well-balanced on the palate, this is offering a harmonious blend of dried fruits, nuts, and caramel flavours. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Sassella, 1996
La Castellina
This 1996 Sassella (Valtellina Superiore) has reached a poised, mature elegance. Aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant, rose, and earthy herbs mingle with hints of leather, tobacco, and subtle spice. On the palate it is medium-bodied and refined, with softened tannins, lively but mellowed acidity, and flavours of dried red fruit, forest floor, and a touch of almond. The finish is long, savoury, and harmonious, showcasing the graceful evolution of Nebbiolo in the alpine terroir.
Serve at 16–17 °C (60–63 °F), ideally after a brief decant of 20–30 minutes. Excellent with slow-cooked meats, mushroom risotto, aged cheeses such as Bitto or Parmigiano Reggiano, or simply with roasted game. …
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Price: £39.00
Stock: Out of Stock