1996 Claude Dugat Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St. Jacques

“This wine is significantly better than most grand crus I have tasted. It has a medium-to-dark ruby color, an incredibly dense nose of super-ripe red and black fruits, and a sublime full-bodied character. This wine is redolent with luxurious, deeply-ripe, and seamless red and black cherry fruit. It is concentrated, powerful, broad, rich, dense, structured, and complex. (PR)” (08/1998)

“Terrific '96 red Burgundy. Full-bodied and ripe yet not overdone, silky in texture yet with firm tannins, it packs in delicious flavors of blackberry, cassis, rose petal, wet earth and mineral. Oak plays a subtle tone in this symphony of a wine. Long finish.” (09/1998)

“Excellent deep ruby. More perfumed, nobler aromas of black cherry, black raspberry and flowers. Rounder and thicker than the premier cru, showing even more inner-mouth perfume. Great balance of fruit and power. Has a firm, rather masculine structure; the tannins did not become obvious for several minutes. Explosive finishing fruit. (ST)” (03/1999)