As is the case with many of the best wines from the '96 red burgundy vintage, this is still quite fresh and youthful though no longer primary with its layered and very pretty notes of various red berries, Asian spice box scents and floral hints, all of which is trimmed in subtle but noticeable wood. There is excellent intensity and detail to the delicious middle weight flavors that possess really lovely focus on the lingering and reasonably well-balanced finish. I say reasonably well-balanced because the acidity is certainly present but it's not drying even if there is a trace of edginess. Based on the most recent bottle my take is that this has now arrived on the front edge of its full maturity though it will certainly be capable of holding for years to come. In sum, I would observe that 1996 is a fine to very fine vintage for this wine but it's not a genuinely great one. Multiple and largely consistent notes.

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