The wine is 1996 Chateau Lanessan, Haut-Medoc. Parker reviewed it twice. In 1998 he said: "The 1996 is an impressively built, medium-bodied, deep ruby/purple-colored wine with plenty of black currant, spice box, and cedar flavors. It is long in the mouth, with moderate but sweet tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2015. An insider's wine, Lanessan often makes wines of classified growth quality that can keep for decades.[Emphasis added] Readers should consider them as hypothetical crosses between a St.-Julien and Pauillac." He tasted the wine again in 1999 and opined: "A sleeper of the vintage, Lanessan's 1996 boasts an impressively saturated dark ruby/purple color, and knock-out aromatics of melted chocolate, asphalt, and cassis. Deep, rich, and medium-bodied, with excellent concentration and purity, this impressively-endowed, flavorful, well-structured wine should be at its finest between 2004-2016."

So much for the good news. Now for the better news. The Duke has this delicious (yes, we have tasted it several times), carefully aged, ten-year-old Bordeaux direct from the Chateau for $23.99 per bottle. Buy 6 or more and save - $21.99 each! (No limit at this time)