1996 Chassagne Montrachet Les Embrazees

The 1996 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Embrazees, aged in 30% new oak barrels, is one of the finest Embrazees I've tasted from Bernard Morey. It combines the depth and power generally associated with this vineyard to this vintage's trademark acidity, creating a profound wine with outstanding ripeness, elegance, refinement and focus. Aromatically it reveals earthy floral scents and its medium-to-full-bodied flavor profile is packed with minerals, white flowers, pears, and anise. This silky-textured, complex, and concentrated wine has great balance and a pure, delineated finish. Projected maturity: 2001-2006. I was tremendously impressed with the quality of Morey's 1996s. While I generally had a slight preference for most vignerons' 1995s because of that vintage's extraordinary concentration, I feel that 1996's crisp, focused, and vibrant profile married admirably well with Morey's rich, plump, and ripe winemaking style. These are some of the finest wines I have tasted from this consistently first rate estate. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.