Gazin has been one of the most impressive Pomerols over the last decade. That's good news for consumers since it is a large estate, with the potential to produce 10,000 cases. The 1996 is an atypically tannic, serious Gazin with a dense ruby/purple color, and lavish quantities of toasty new oak in the nose intermixed with licorice, black cherries, and mocha/coffee notes. The wine displays excellent concentration, but is backward, with medium to full body, and moderately high tannin. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring as it will be potentially long-lived. It is unquestionably an impressive effort for a 1996 Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018.

Medium red. Enticing aromas of roasted plum, tobacco, toffee and smoky oak. Smooth entry, then intensely flavored and rather backward, with sound acidity and firm tannins. Plenty of lingering flavor on the finish. Much firmer than my sample a year ago: I like this.