Château Olivier 1996 is a red Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Château Olivier is a very old seigniory dating back to the Middle Ages, known for producing seductive and engaging wines. The estate's terroir consists of gravel with clay and limestone, with red wine grapes planted in gravelly, sandy soils. The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux was a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant year, known for producing wines with good structure and aging potential. This particular vintage of Château Olivier has been described with aromas of blueberry, hot-stone, slate, walnut, terracotta, and iodine. On the palate, it is full-bodied, round, and dense with layers of fine tannins. Older Bordeaux wines like this 1996 often develop complex notes of cedar, moist earth, and mushrooms, alongside dark fruit. 【A classic expression of aged Pessac-Léognan with evolving complexity】. For a wine of this age, expect the cork to be fragile and the capsule potentially brittle. It's advisable to use a Durand opener or an Ah-So wine opener for older corks. Decanting is recommended for older vintages, primarily to separate any sediment that has formed over time. A brief decant of 1 to 90 minutes can allow the wine to soften and open its perfume, though very old vintages might need less time, just enough to remove sediment. Serve at around 16-18°C (60-64°F). This wine is an excellent choice for a special occasion, a formal dinner, or a vertical tasting of Bordeaux wines. It would be particularly fitting for a celebration marking a significant anniversary or milestone from 1996. Food pairings for aged red Bordeaux typically include roasted red meats such as beef carpaccio, lamb, or venison, as well as hard, aged cheeses. The wine's structure and evolving savory characteristics would complement rich, earthy dishes.