Château MOULIN SAINT-GEORGES - Magnum 1996
Located at the foot of the Saint-Émilion slope, in the immediate vicinity of Château Ausone, Château Moulin Saint-Georges belongs to the Vauthier family and benefits from the same meticulous care in vineyard management as in winemaking. The estate covers about eight hectares, in an area where clay-limestone soils offer Merlot particularly favorable conditions for regular ripening and deep expression. Cabernet Franc completes the blend by bringing freshness, relief, and aromatic complexity. The style of Moulin Saint-Georges follows a classic interpretation of the right bank, with a majority of Merlot and a structure serious enough to allow long aging in the bottle. The 1996 vintage belongs to a period when the estate's wines are more upright, more structured, and less immediately opulent than in the sunniest years. After three decades of aging, this initial restraint becomes an asset, especially in a magnum format that slows evolution and better preserves freshness. This bottle is currently in an advanced maturity phase where tertiary characteristics can fully express themselves.
Château Moulin Saint-Georges 1996 is made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Merlot provides the flesh, ripe fruit, and enveloping texture characteristic of the estate's wines, while Cabernet Franc supports the whole with a fresher and more vertical framework. The grapes come from a clay-limestone terroir that naturally gives the wine structure and good aging potential. At that time, winemaking already followed a demanding approach, with careful selections and barrel aging intended to accompany the wine's density. The 1996 vintage stands out with a more classic and firmer profile than the warm great years of the right bank. Over time, this structure has gradually softened to reveal more finesse and complexity. The magnum format today helps maintain better cohesion between fruit, freshness, and aromatic evolution.
The color should present a deep garnet evolving towards ruby and tile hues on the rim. The nose leans towards plum, black cherry, and candied red fruits, accompanied by notes of cedar, blond tobacco, and undergrowth. Aeration may reveal nuances of truffle, fine leather, licorice, and sweet spices. The palate retains a beautiful breadth, but the tannic structure has softened to form a more velvety and harmonious texture. The evolved fruit is accompanied by notes of cocoa, damp earth, and fine wood, supported by still perceptible freshness. The finish remains persistent, with a more tertiary than fruity expression and a beautiful sense of depth. This 1996 magnum will benefit from careful decanting and will pair well with roasted pigeon, beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, rack of lamb, royal hare, or dishes featuring black truffle.
Grape varieties: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
