1996 Chambolle Musigny Les Chatelots

Exhibiting a shiny, ruby color and ripe raspberry aromas, this wine has aromas reminiscent of black raspberry and metal shavings as well as a medium-bodied, rich and well-focused character with plum, mineral, stone, and raspberry flavors. It should be drunk between now and 2004. Ghislaine Barthod was "charmed by this vintage, it has purity of fruit, raspberries mostly, and elegance." She informed me that she had dropped grapes a month or so before the harvest to reduce yields to 42 hectoliters/hectare. Barthod has enlarged her formerly-cramped cellar, and installed an elevator to assist her in making her delicious Chambolles. Since her wines are all produced with the same techniques, including 25% new oak, tasting at this domaine represents a lesson in this village's terroirs. Importer: Neal Rosenthal, Select Vineyards, Shekomeko, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990.