1996 in champagne. what happened?
by Edouard Bourgeois
November 21, 2025
Ratings for 1996 often use words like "exceptional" and "grandiose," with some comparisons to 1928. What made 1996 objectively unique was the high average potential alcohol (10.3%) combined with high total acidity (10g/litre)—figures rarely seen together. As Charles Philipponnat noted, this is a significant jump from the 9.3% potential alcohol common forty years prior.
Acidity and potential alcohol work together for balance, but typically, when one is high, the other is low. In 1996, both figures were high. Bruno Paillard called it a 'naughty boy' vintage due to its unpredictable nature and the anxiety it caused producers while waiting for acidity levels to drop. However, the result for those with patience is "fantastic."
While acidity is key for aging, the true test is time. Over two decades later, the remaining 1996 bottles reveal which producers succeeded. The best examples are still complex and alluring, where the high acidity is balanced by a wide range of aromas, from brioche to stone fruit. Unfortunately, some other bottlings show only residual acidity, resulting in unbalanced and tart wines.
I recall opening a glorious bottle of 1996 Cristal for my son's birth seven years ago; the wine was still vibrant and charged.
Another fabulous example was made by Krug. As Olivier Krug said, "It’s a year where a good house or a good winemaker will make a good wine... It’s a tricky vintage." Other industry professionals have shared similar sentiments, noting that some vintners either opted out of making a vintage bottling or failed to achieve balance, resulting in wines that are already clumsy or tired.
The 1996 vintage often draws comparisons to its predecessor, 1995. These were the last two great Champagne vintages following the 1988, 1989, and 1990 trio. The 1996s are powerful wines; the best combine weight from ripeness with tension from acidity, providing the interest, complexity, and structure needed for long-term aging.
Interestingly, more houses released 1995 as a vintage Champagne than 1996, with a ratio of roughly 60% (1995) to 40% (1996).
Given its unpredictability, the safest bet for 1996 Champagne remains to go with producers you trust.
While looking for pictures of 1996 Champagne on my IPhone, I also found several other wines from various regions where the 1996 vintage truly shone, as seen in images below;jbgories
What's Pressoir Drinking?
by Eléonore Lafarge
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
By Eléonore Lafarge
01/13/2021
In my family, the Christmas holidays always mean good food paired with amazing wine. On the 25th of December, we usually share bottles of Champagne, then some whites before opening old bottles of Lafarge to celebrate the end of the year. Burgundy is our favorite region but no one is opposed to trying something different as well!
Due to the current situation, I didn’t celebrate Christmas in Volnay this year. So I had my first Christmas in the USA. Christmas 2020 was no exception to the good food and good wine rule shared with nice people. Being away from home and family is not easy during the holidays but opening a bottle of Burgundy always helps when I feel homesick.
One of the bottles I had the chance to taste this Christmas was a Taupenot-Merme Corton Rognet Grand Cru from 2006.
The wine had a charming floral nose and palate. I did not expect such a long finish in the palate and was nicely surprised. I haven’t had a 2006 in a long time, I was happy to try a nice vintage from the Côte de Nuits.
Even my friend’s puppy wanted a glass, proof that the wine was good!
