1997 Corton Charlemagne

Buttered toast, vanilla beans, anise, and honeysuckle blossoms are found in the 1997 Corton-Charlemagne's nose. It is a huge, dense, oak-laden, concentrated, and extremely dense wine. Its super-spicy flavor profile is loaded with poached pears, caramelized apples, and minerals whose flavors last throughout its exceedingly persistent finish. Projected maturity: now-2006. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083.