Ferrand Lartigue 1996 750ml

Château Ferrand Lartigue is a tiny Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate whose owner has long pursued quality well above its unclassified status. Robert Parker counted the 1996 among "St.-Emilion's stars," judging it superior to many wines with grander pedigrees. In its youth it was dense and purple, with lavish toasty oak over framboise, kirsch and black currant fruit, a sweet mid-palate, moderate tannin and a round, impressively long finish. Nearly three decades on, this Right Bank Bordeaux should now be showing the savory, secondary character of a mature claret, with its tannins fully softened. Drink now, ideally after standing the bottle upright and decanting gently off its sediment.