1995 Griotte Chambertin

In The Wine Advocate's Issue #111, I rated the 1995 Griotte-Chambertin a 91-94 and described it as "dark-ruby colored ... with aromas of deep, dark berries and touches of underbrush, this is a powerful, large-scaled wine that offers layer upon layer of thick, chewy and grilled fruits ... tannic, full-bodied and backward, it requires 6-7 years of cellaring and should age well for another 12-15 years." At my recent encounter with this Griotte out of bottle it had a brick/ruby color and revealed the amber edge of an older wine. Exhibiting the aromas of an already well-evolved Pinot (roses, raspberries, and earth), this wine possesses an elegant, light-to-medium-bodied core of tea leaves, cherries, and strawberries. It appears already to be drying out, however it offers a long and fruit-flavored finish. Readers who own this wine should consider drinking it up. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.