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Red
12 FREE
Red
750ml
Bottle: $133.88
12 bottles: $131.20
12 FREE
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $169.89 $184.20
Dark ruby. Deep, brooding nose hints at dark plum, blackcurrant, coffee and lavender accented by cinnamon and...
12 FREE
VM
91
WS
90
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $1513.35 $1681.50
The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38%...
12 FREE
WA
100
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $1296.18 $1440.20
Softly spoken, fine tannins, pencil lead and leather, with truffle, earth, campfire and spice. Long drawn out finish,...
12 FREE
DC
100
WA
100
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $476.55 $529.50
Tasted over dinner in July 2009.
12 FREE
VM
94
WA
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $455.48
It's extremely rare to taste older vintages of Angélus. It's utterly sumptuous, and it's such a shame that the...
DC
95
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $501.41
It's extremely rare to taste older vintages of Angélus. It's utterly sumptuous, and it's such a shame that the...
DC
95
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $104.28
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $118.31
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $190.43
This is a backward, muscular, highly-extracted wine with a boatload of tannin, thus the question mark. The saturated...
WA
91
Case only
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $59.62
Case only
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $230.34
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $94.65
A wine must reflect its terroir, its origins. We strongly believe that the uniqueness of the vineyard’s location is...
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $569.98
While in some vintages La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion can be close in quality, that is not the case in this...
WA
95
WS
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $545.95
While in some vintages La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion can be close in quality, that is not the case in this...
WA
95
WS
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $67.20
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $1059.83
Many 1996 are still pretty closed up right now, as it was a vintage with fairly hefty tannins but this is perfect for...
DC
95
VM
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $1038.95
The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38%...
WA
100
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $1600.00
The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38%...
WA
100

Cabernet Franc Red Bordeaux Syrah 1996 France

Cabernet Franc is not simply an important grape varietal for the fact that it is one of the most widely grown strains of vine in the world, but also because it is a vital grape in the production of many of the finest wines the world has ever seen. For centuries in its native France, it has been a varietal synonymous with elegance and high quality, and has become a key fruit in the production of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style blended wines which have gone down in history thanks to their magnificent flavors, aromas and levels of aged complexity. However, Cabernet Franc is also a wine grape varietal for use in single variety, unblended wines, and has plenty to offer on its own. Most commonly, it is renowned for its wide bouquet, which often includes fascinating notes of tobacco, violets or bell pepper over a beautifully pale and decadent liquid.

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.

Known as Syrah in most countries around the world, and Shiraz in Australia and certain other regions of the New World, this grape varietal has proven over the centuries to be one of the most powerful and flavorful red wine grapes there is. It is now one of the planet's most widely grown grapes, and is a favorite with wineries as a result of its robustness and versatility. It isn't easy to identify many characteristics of this particular varietal, due to the fact that it is highly versatile and shows significant differences in flavor and character depending on the terroir it is grown in, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, Syrah is most widely associated with full bodied, strong and loud red wines, packed full of fruity and spicy flavors, held in a beautifully deep red liquid.

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.