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.