Beautiful mature nose displaying subtle red fruit, dry cherry, strawberry, a hint balsamico, raw button mushroom leather, ash, damp cellar and a hint of iron. There is a slight hint of musty damp cellar. Fully integrated palate, finely layered subtle red fruit, nice balance, bright acidity, fully integrated tannins and a long subtle red fruit driven finish with ash at the end. No VA but showing a slightly musty damp cellar note.

Medium expressive nose displaying very ripe yellow fruit, passion fruit, dry peach, lemon curd, honey, burnt sugar, beeswax and a hint of limestone mineral. Good concentration, deeply toned ripe yellow fruit, a bit heavy and cloying, and a medium long very ripe yellow fruit driven finish with burnt sugar at the end. I am hoping that this is a bit advanced example.

Served blind. Fully mature nose displaying very ripe yellow fruit, dry peach, baked apple, burnt sugar, a hint of botrytis and sweet spices. Medium concentration, very ripe yellow fruit, sweet, medium acidity and a medium long ripe yellow fruit driven finish. My guess is a premier crus from a very ripe year, perhaps 2010. I find it straightforward and a bit advanced. Caveat emptor!

P.S. Blind tasting is a lot easier in a proper tasting setting. This seems a lot more advanced than the previous bottle.

Initially very fizzy. Medium expressive nose displaying ripe yellow fruit, lemon curd, apple, passion fruit, lemon oil, saline, spicy spices and limestone. Excellent concentration, nicely layered concentrated white and yellow fruit, rich and oily, but also showing a good balance, bright acidity and mineral, and a long ripe white and yellow fruit driven finish with spicy spices at the end. With air, fizziness completely dissipates. This is a big scale intense Montrachet that slightly lacks finesse.

Absolutely gorgeous nose displaying generous sweet red fruit, strawberry, raspberry tart, caramel, sous bois, brioche, cooper and limestone. Perfectly integrated palate, layers upon layers of decadent red fruit, very fine generous mousse, rich and sweet but also beautiful balance and detail, perfect amount of acidity, strong mineral and a seamless long decadent red fruit driven finish with copper and caramel at the end. By far, the best example of the 96 Dom Rose, drinking incredibly well.

Expressive nose displaying rich concentrated red fruit, strawberry jam, cherry compote, animal, a hint of VA, damp cellar, leather, tar and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of rich concentrated fruit, warm, round and sweet, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long ripe red fruit driven finish with VA and damp cellar at the end. We are all surprise by how rich and concentrated the bottle is. It feels a bit chunky and lacks finesse but still very impressive. Antonio’s note from Feb, 2012 is pretty spot on except I am getting more red fruit than dark.

Unfortunately, corked.

Perfectly mature sensual nose displaying elegant sweet red fruit, candied cherry, strawberry, dark cherry, floral perfume, light caramel, leather, tar, sweet spices, cumin, iron and limestone. Beautifully integrated palate, layers upon layers of subtle sweet red fruit, perfect balance and beautifully detailed, fluid and weightless, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long perfectly ripe red fruit driven finish with cumin and floral perfume at the end. It doesn’t posses the singular iron expression and focus of the 89 but this particular bottle is as compelling due to the display of incredible elegance and intoxicating floral perfume.

Expressive youthful nose displaying incredibly concentrated red and black fruit, blackberry, cherry candy, fruitcake, dark caramel, licorice, leather, tar, black truffle and mineral. Unbelieverable concentration, layers upon layers of rich black fruit with a hint of red, rich and dense but also fluid and showing excellent balance, bright acidity and strong mineral, still showing tannins, and a long intense black fruit driven finish with cumin and fruitcake at the end. Although very enjoyable, this remains incredibly youthful.

Nother incredibly youthful nose displaying concentrated black fruit, blackberry concentrated, black cherry, fruit cake, strong licorice, dark caramel, strong iron, leather, sweet spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of youthful concentrated black fruit, rich and unctuous but also silky, bright acidity and strong iron mineral, and a long concentrated black fruit driven finish with licorice and dark spices at the end. Although it is drinking well, it remains incredibly youthful.

Beautiful complex nose displaying incredibly concentratd sweet yellow fruit, apricot, tart tartin, rain, peach, honey, sweet spices, crème brulee, vanilla and mineral. Exceptional concentration, layers upon layers of decadent yellow fruit, oily and dense but also perfectly balanced and beautifully detailed, bright acidity, subtle mineral and an incredibly long finish. The palate is intense yet weightless. Incredible showing.