- Home/
Château Bel Air-Marquis d'Aligre Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
Ratings on Delectable
Lyle Fass 
Founder Fass Selections
Mushrooms, earthen aromas, damp leaves, dried cherry, cranberry bog and so floral with fresh cherry flavors and a vibrant energy. Long, tangy, fresh and deep. Needs 2 hours. Youngest bottle I’ve had in years.
Mushrooms, earthen aromas, damp leaves, dried cherry, cranberry bog and so floral with fresh cherry flavors and a vibrant energy. Long, tangy, fresh and deep. Needs 2 hours. Youngest bottle I’ve had in years.
9.5
Jay Kline
First things first, the wines of Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre or “BAMA”, as they are affectionately known, are not for everyone. They are essentially relics of a bygone era, made by a man who has largely resisted change over the last 74 years. Yes, that’s right, Jean-Pierre has been making the wine at BAMA since 1950. While nearly everyone around him has adopted whatever technology or technique that is trending, Jean-Pierre has held fast to his tradition. Before I get into the tasting notes, it’s worth sharing that opening a bottle of BAMA is a wild trip. A spirit walk of sorts. There are periods when you think the wine is fading and then minutes later, it’s a whirling dervish. It transformed every 20 minutes so be ready for the ride of your life. Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Remarkable throughout. In the glass, the wine is a deep garnet color moving towards a rust color rim; slightly hazy with a near opaque, translucent core. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous showing notes of desiccated cherries, currants, rhubarb, prunes, pomegranate, tobacco, cedar box, a well-conditioned horse saddle, an old library, espresso, roasted Brussels sprouts and damp earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is seriously 5 minutes long; it’s got the elegance of Margaux with an unctuous texture. Truly remarkable. A veritable abyss of complexity. Drink now with patience but honestly, I’m not even sure a wine like this ever dies so I wouldn’t be concerned about holding these for another couple decades. Special thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist.
First things first, the wines of Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre or “BAMA”, as they are affectionately known, are not for everyone. They are essentially relics of a bygone era, made by a man who has largely resisted change over the last 74 years. Yes, that’s right, Jean-Pierre has been making the wine at BAMA since 1950. While nearly everyone around him has adopted whatever technology or technique that is trending, Jean-Pierre has held fast to his tradition. Before I get into the tasting notes, it’s worth sharing that opening a bottle of BAMA is a wild trip. A spirit walk of sorts. There are periods when you think the wine is fading and then minutes later, it’s a whirling dervish. It transformed every 20 minutes so be ready for the ride of your life. Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Remarkable throughout. In the glass, the wine is a deep garnet color moving towards a rust color rim; slightly hazy with a near opaque, translucent core. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous showing notes of desiccated cherries, currants, rhubarb, prunes, pomegranate, tobacco, cedar box, a well-conditioned horse saddle, an old library, espresso, roasted Brussels sprouts and damp earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is seriously 5 minutes long; it’s got the elegance of Margaux with an unctuous texture. Truly remarkable. A veritable abyss of complexity. Drink now with patience but honestly, I’m not even sure a wine like this ever dies so I wouldn’t be concerned about holding these for another couple decades. Special thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist.
9.5Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Fully resolved and gorgeous. No formal notes with an old friend.
Fully resolved and gorgeous. No formal notes with an old friend.
9.5Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Just gorgeous. No formal notes. So old school.
Just gorgeous. No formal notes. So old school.
9.5Matt Perlman
As others have noted, a world away from modern Bordeaux. High toned, as much red fruit driven as black, minimal (no?) wood or extraction. Accessible with a bit of air and continued to evolve over the next day. Raspberry, plum skin, black currant, tobacco leaf, old leather and earth. Tastes like a decent proportion of cab franc. Autumnal, austere, but not unwelcoming. Feels like something to sip on a quiet night in a wood paneled study by a fireplace.
As others have noted, a world away from modern Bordeaux. High toned, as much red fruit driven as black, minimal (no?) wood or extraction. Accessible with a bit of air and continued to evolve over the next day. Raspberry, plum skin, black currant, tobacco leaf, old leather and earth. Tastes like a decent proportion of cab franc. Autumnal, austere, but not unwelcoming. Feels like something to sip on a quiet night in a wood paneled study by a fireplace.
9.4Stefan Dolhain
1996 vintage. An old-fashioned Margaux made by 85 year old Jean-Pierre Boyer (who has no succession by the way). No wood here, only concrete vats Very intriguing wine, evolved colour with orange rim. Nose opens up beautifully with air, reminiscent of crushed strawberries, cedar wood and flowers. Delicate and full of finesse, very much alive. Drinking beautifully now, but given how well it reacts to air exposure this wine can evolve for many years to come. Highly recommended if you want to taste a totally different Bordeaux. Only 12,5% Abv.
1996 vintage. An old-fashioned Margaux made by 85 year old Jean-Pierre Boyer (who has no succession by the way). No wood here, only concrete vats Very intriguing wine, evolved colour with orange rim. Nose opens up beautifully with air, reminiscent of crushed strawberries, cedar wood and flowers. Delicate and full of finesse, very much alive. Drinking beautifully now, but given how well it reacts to air exposure this wine can evolve for many years to come. Highly recommended if you want to taste a totally different Bordeaux. Only 12,5% Abv.
9.2Lyle Fass
Founder Fass Selections
Sublime. Floral, mushroomy, red fruited, meaty, truffley, leather, cedar, so many red fruits, unreal nose. Elegant, juicy, complex, long. So savory, pure and sweet.
Sublime. Floral, mushroomy, red fruited, meaty, truffley, leather, cedar, so many red fruits, unreal nose. Elegant, juicy, complex, long. So savory, pure and sweet.
9.6
Aravind A
Pop and pour. Notes from 2 hrs open. On the nose: loads of cedar, dried blackberry, dried leaves and herbs...so soft and enticing. On the palate: dried herbs, blackberry, cedar.toast, good acidity. Lighter styled, but lovely density, attenuated tannin. Firmly secondary with some tertiary notes...yum.
Pop and pour. Notes from 2 hrs open. On the nose: loads of cedar, dried blackberry, dried leaves and herbs...so soft and enticing. On the palate: dried herbs, blackberry, cedar.toast, good acidity. Lighter styled, but lovely density, attenuated tannin. Firmly secondary with some tertiary notes...yum.
9.5
TJ Maxwell
Wow., great surprise! Soooo good. No oak, pure Margaux character. Mature, and singing
Wow., great surprise! Soooo good. No oak, pure Margaux character. Mature, and singing
9.2
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.