1996 Chambolle Musigny

This wine is medium-to-dark ruby-colored and reveals a floral nose of violets, black cherries, and spicy oak. This silky-textured, medium-to-full-bodied, bright, and fresh wine has jammy raspberries, roses, and minerals in its highly appealing flavor profile. Its long finish offers loads of soft tannins. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2004. Philippe and Vincent Lecheneaut produce wines that resemble them - strong, muscular, and expressive. In the past I have described certain wines as being like ballerinas, well-known actresses, football players, etc. These are rugby players, strong, rough (at first), but explosive, with considerable stamina (staying power). I tasted these wines twice, once in November, 1997, and then again in late January, 1998. At my first tasting the wines were quite backward, oaky, and tannic but two and a half months later they had softened while still displaying loads of fruit. Some of these wines are worth making every effort to locate. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083.