1996 Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
This dark-colored wine reveals a violet, raspberry and blueberry-scented nose, and is complex and concentrated. Tasting this plump, round, medium-to-full-bodied, and harmonious wine is akin to having liquid silk drenched in candied cherries, blueberries, plums, and raspberry liqueur poured across the palate. If it were not for this gem's focus and delineation, I would be hard-pressed not to describe it as over-ripe. Its layered and super-sweet fruit covers its copious quantities of marvelously supple tannins. Projected maturity: 2002-2008+. Importers: Martine's Wines, Inc., San Rafael, CA; tel (415) 485-1800, and Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL; tel (847) 604-8900.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Pierre Rovani
More reviews and scores
Deeper color. Sappy, spicy, liqueur-like aromas of framboise and creme de cassis Sweeter, lusher and more textured than the Fremieres; also a bit reduced. Very subtle, spicy and complex. At once dense and delineated. Fruit-driven Chambolle, not as obviously mineral as the '95, but very long and fine.
About the producer
For many, Domaine Leroy represents the pinnacle of fine Burgundy. Owned and run by the legendary Lalou Bize-Leroy, the domaine in Vosne-Romanée is one strand of the Leroy empire, along with Maison Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay.