1996 Verget - Chablis Valmur

Guffens' Chablis offerings continue to enthrall me. The 1996 Chablis Valmur, while not quite as mind-blowing as the 1995, is a stunning wine. Rich aromas of liquid minerals, white flowers, red berries and sweet oak notes are followed by a broad, full-bodied, and supremely complex character. Silky-textured, deep, and broad, this steely offering is filled with flint, metals, minerals, and dried herbs. As with its older brother, the 1995, this Valmur has an unbelievably long, precise, and pure finish. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2012. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. A year ago, Jean-Marie Guffens told me that 1996 was the greatest vintage of his lifetime. While he did not repeat that comment when I visited him in November, Guffens was bursting with pride as I tasted the wines. A Peter Vezan Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-42654293), importers include: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 848-8910, and a Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-44706293), various American importers, including Bacchus Importers (800) 525-9699.

Guffens' Chablis offerings continue to enthrall me. The 1996 Chablis Valmur, while not quite as mind-blowing as the 1995, is a stunning wine. Rich aromas of liquid minerals, white flowers, red berries and sweet oak notes are followed by a broad, full-bodied, and supremely complex character. Silky-textured, deep, and broad, this steely offering is filled with flint, metals, minerals, and dried herbs. As with its older brother, the 1995, this Valmur has an unbelievably long, precise, and pure finish. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2012. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle.||A year ago, Jean-Marie Guffens told me that 1996 was the greatest vintage of his lifetime. While he did not repeat that comment when I visited him in November, Guffens was bursting with pride as I tasted the wines.||A Peter Vezan Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-42654293), importers include: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 848-8910, and a Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-44706293), various American importers, including Bacchus Importers (800) 525-9699.|| Wine Advocate.February, 1998

Fresher aromas of mint, lime, pear blossom and wet stone. Penetrating flavors of lime skin, vanilla and pear blossom, with an intense core of spice and vibrant framing acidity. Very concentrated and tactile. Grew more and more vibrant in the open bottle. Just 5% new oak used for this wine. Guffens singles out Valmur and La Romanee as his two most consistent wines over the 1994-1997 period.