1996 Domaine Perrot-Minot Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru

This dark ruby-colored wine has a mulberry, black raspberry, blueberry, earth, briar, and roasted oak-laden nose. This is a soft, sweet, supple, full-bodied, powerful, thickly-textured, gorgeously concentrated, and seductive offering. Crammed with candied cherries, mushrooms, and fresh herbs, and refined, it has extraordinary richness, and a superbly long, suave, and focused finish. Projected maturity: 2002-2009. This wine is produced from 55 year old selection massale vines (propagated by selecting the healthiest and best producing plants in a vineyard and taking cuttings from them - as opposed to clonal selections). Because of the quirky rules and regulations that govern Burgundy, Perrot-Minot is entitled to blend both his Mazoyeres and Charmes together and call the assemblage Charmes-Chambertin, as do most Burgundians (which is why Mazoyeres is so rare). However, he told me that since they were produced from vines selected the same way, planted the same year, and were vinified identically, that they truly defined their differences in terroir. This are 1996s not to be missed! Bravo! to Christophe Perrot-Minot. Represented by Russell Herman, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel (908) 771-9082. Various Importers, including V.O.S. Selections, NY & NJ; Hartley & Parker, CT; Vintage Wines, IL; De Gustibus Imports, WA; Esquin Imports, CA, Yankee Spirits, MA.