November 27, 2023 - Tasted blind. The nose is fantastic but incongruent with the palate. Ripe aromas of plum jam, cherries, beef fat and old leather. In the mouth it’s a bit lean and tannic, nice but not great.
January 26, 2021 - 13.5% abv. Light clear garnet, slight bricking, med amount of clear staining of tears. On nose cherries, clove, sweet tobacco, garden bush. Quite bright and acidic in mouth, plenty of tannins to go several more years (bottle had no cork issues, stored exceptionally well), med weight, long layered 60+ sec finish, lots of power left. Tart cherry, pomegranate, mushrooms with red wine reduction, saddle leather, cigar box. I haven’t had a burgundy this aged before, and this is far from top shelf, but its quite a treat.
June 27, 2020 - Was roasting a duck so immediately thought of Burgundy, and although I'd been saving this for a special occasion there's no time like the present. Bottle obviously in excellent condition from the first pour (although I double-decanted for sediment), although for the first 20 minutes or so the 1996 acidity was rather too much to the fore. Thereafter this was soft sweet fruit and the suggestion of sous bois. Refreshing and continually demanded another sip; had there been another bottle I'm sure the two of us would have polished that off too.
April 30, 2019 - Lovely nose with leather, dark fruit, and cherry. Palate showed what an aged classic burgundy should expressive with mineral driven dark fruit. Like many 96, the fruit was tart. Enjoyable but finish was short.
April 10, 2016 - In a beautiful spot right now!
December 15, 2015 - Marred by Brett. Seemed very good otherwise: fresh, airy Chambolle concentration, still plenty of structure, better with food. But it was stinky from the start and and the Brett crowded out the fruit.
April 12, 2015 - weak bottle
November 12, 2013 - I thought it showed very well tonight. Drwine's note describes it better than I could. Still on the younger side and probably 3-5 years away from prime drinking but nonetheless quite tasty with a couple of hours of air tonight. Great combination of bright fruit, energy and elegance.
October 3, 2013 - Primary looking ruby. Wonderful mix of mulled red fruit, earth, a hint of wintergreen and forest floor. Very gentle wood, medium weight. Cherry fruit with a twist of typical '96 cranberry acidity, but this early burst of acid was quickly incorporated. Beautiful expression of secondary perfume over the first hour in the glass. This has turned out very, very well and is another marker that shows that 1996 reds are finally coming around. Surprisingly fresh and looking back at Steve Tanzer's original note, I dare say that it probably would have surpassed his modest expectations.