France • Bordeaux • Saint-Émilion Grand Cru • Château La Tour Figeac • Grand Cru Classé • Vintage 1996

Château La Tour Figeac 1996 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

A mature bottle of Château La Tour Figeac 1996, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. A Right Bank Bordeaux with evolved charm, from a classic vintage, intended for lovers of mature wines, refined Merlot and the great terroirs of Saint-Émilion.

A mature Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

Château La Tour Figeac is one of the historic estates of Saint-Émilion. Located on terroirs close to Pomerol, the estate produces characterful wines marked by the roundness of Merlot, the finesse of Cabernet Franc and the elegance typical of the great wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank.

This Château La Tour Figeac 1996 offers the appeal of a wine that has now reached maturity after several decades of bottle ageing. It is intended for Bordeaux lovers seeking tertiary complexity, the patina of time and the classic expression of an old Saint-Émilion rather than the power of a young wine.

The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux

The 1996 vintage is often associated with a classic, structured and fresh Bordeaux style. On the Right Bank, well-preserved bottles may now show an evolved profile, with softened tannins, more integrated fruit and tertiary aromas developed through ageing.

After nearly three decades, a Saint-Émilion 1996 should be approached with care. Its evolution depends strongly on storage conditions, bottle level, cork condition and provenance. This bottle therefore represents both a mature tasting experience and a witness to time.

Key information

Probable tasting profile

Depending on its state of conservation, Château La Tour Figeac 1996 may offer a bouquet of evolved red and black fruit, plum, black cherry, cedar, blond tobacco, fine leather, undergrowth, gentle spices and lightly truffled notes. The fruit, now softened by time, gradually gives way to a more tertiary and classical expression.

On the palate, the wine may be supple, integrated and elegant, with tannins softened by age, moderate body and a finish marked by spices, noble wood and old Bordeaux nuances. This is a wine to appreciate for its maturity, balance and evolved character.

Food pairing

This mature Saint-Émilion will pair best with refined dishes that respect its evolution.

• Roast beef fillet or veal chop
• Rack of lamb with gentle herbs
• Roast poultry or poularde with mushrooms
• Porcini or truffle risotto
• Mature hard cheeses

Dishes that are too spicy, too sweet or too powerful should be avoided in order to preserve the wine’s aromatic finesse and tertiary nuances.

Serving advice

A bottle from 1996 should be handled with care. We recommend standing it upright several hours before opening, allowing any natural sediment to settle at the bottom. Opening should be delicate, ideally with a corkscrew suited to older corks.

Short decanting may be considered depending on the wine’s condition, but prolonged aeration is not always recommended for a mature Bordeaux. It is preferable to taste the wine upon opening, then adjust aeration according to its evolution in the glass.

Visual condition of the bottle

The following details are based on the available bottle photo. They do not replace a full physical inspection of the bottle.

• Level: visually good, close to base neck level, to be confirmed upon physical inspection.
• Label: readable, in generally good condition, with slight age-related patina.
• Capsule: light-coloured capsule present, visually correct, with possible minor marks.
• Colour: dark robe visible through the glass, consistent with a mature red Bordeaux.
• Storage history: complete historical storage record not communicated; tasting will depend on the bottle’s individual evolution.

Why choose this bottle?

• To discover a mature Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé.
• To acquire a Bordeaux bottle from the 1996 vintage.
• To enrich a cellar with a Right Bank wine ready for mature tasting.
• To offer an elegant gift to a lover of old Bordeaux.
• To appreciate the charm of evolved Merlot from Saint-Émilion.