1996 Corton Bressandes

This estate's Corton-Bressandes is a wine I search out in vintages with good ripeness. It is never huge, muscular, or a blockbuster but can often be sultry, seductive, detailed, and simply lovely. A recently tasted 1990, while at least three years from maturity, was fabulous. The 1996 displays sweet red cherry and Asian spice aromatics as well as a gorgeously refined character filled with candied and delineated cherries. This elegant, sexy, and feminine offering is medium-to-full-bodied, silky-textured, and possesses a long and refreshing finish. Projected maturity: 2002-2007. The score, on a range and in parentheses, indicates that the wine was tasted from barrel. Importer: Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines Company, New York, NY; tel (212) 572-7725.