1996 Clos de la Roche

This bright, medium-to-dark ruby-colored wine displays red berry fruit drenched in charred oak scents and a medium-to-full-bodied, broad-shouldered, and oily-textured character. This thick and concentrated wine possesses seductive cassis, blackberry, earth, stone, and juniper-smoked bacon flavors in its tightly wound and austere personality. Projected maturity: 2003-2009. Note: This is a special wine that is neither fined nor filtered and is bottled by hand for Patrick Lesec, this estate's broker. My understanding is that it is available throughout the world but that other, non-Lesec cuvees, are also available. A Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-42-84-38-22), various American importers.