1996 Le Montrachet
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Tasting notes
Surprisingly, the Montrachet's nose revealed intense aromas of petrol, a characteristic I generally associate with Alsatian and German Rieslings. I view this as a sort of extreme minerality. On the palate, this extraordinary wine displays a hugely-concentrated, muscular, highly-expressive, expansive, silky-textured, and massive body. It is packed with loads of buttered hazelnuts, sea shells, gravel, and white peaches. Even though it is decadently fat and rich, this Montrachet has superb delineation and focus. Its mouth-coating flavors persist for at least 45 seconds in its admirably long finish. Bravo! This wine had been bottled one week prior to my visit, having spent 14 months on its lees. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Pierre Rovani
More reviews and scores
Flamboyant aromas of smoked meat, resiny oak and iodine. Chewy, superripe and powerful. Less backward than the Batard and perhaps easier to taste today, yet at the same time more aggressive. This seems to be the result of a more heavily extractive vinification than that practiced by Boudot. The finish begins slowly, then builds to a crescendo. But seems a bit phenolic, and almost too rich.