1996 Terreus Paraje de Cueva Baja
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Tasting notes
The muscular, broodingly backward 1996 Terreus Pago de Cueva Baja exhibits a saturated dark purple color, as well as a tight but promising nose of minerals, black raspberries, and blackberries. Spicy new oak makes an appearance in this dense, full-bodied, nearly impenetrable wine. It requires 4-6 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades. Everything appears to be well-balanced enough to present fascinating potential for the future. A Christopher Cannan Selection, imported by Europvin USA, Watertown, MA; tel. (617) 924-7620
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Saturated dark ruby. Exhilarating, sappy aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, bitter chocolate, licorice, flowers and smoky oak; superripe but not at all cooked. Huge, expansive, very sweet and very long; has a texture like liquid velvet. A distinctly broader style than the "regular" '96 reserva but with no loss of focus. Finishes with ripe, chewy tannins that spread out to suffuse the entire palate, and a building wave of sweet, lush fruit. Extraordinary wine-this struck me as midway between the '95 and '96 Pingus in style-or like a great vintage of Chateau Rauzan-Segla.