1996 Duval-Leroy La Femme de Champagne Grand Cru

The estate’s 1996 Brut Femme de Champagne is really quite pretty in the way it balances some of the more mature notes from extended lees aging with the freshness of the vintage. To be sure, this isn’t a blockbuster 1996, but the Femme de Champagne offers plenty of class and elegance in an approachable, delicate style for the vintage. The rich, radiant fruit flows effortlessly through to the long, satisfying finish. This is a terrific effort from Duval-Leroy. This is Lot L9250N. Disgorged September 7, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Importer: MHW LTD, Manhasset, NY; tel. (516) 869-9170

The 1996 Brut Femme de Champagne is appropriately named, as it is one of the more feminine wines from a vintage of big, powerful wines. Sweet citrus, flowers and pears are woven in to a medium-bodied, silky-textured frame, with a finessed mouth and a long finish, where pretty notes of smoke and minerals add complexity. Disgorged on January 26, 2009.

The 1996 Brut Femme de Champagne emerges from the glass with an array of toasted oak, ash, citrus and mineral nuances. Today this powerful, energetic wine come across as somewhat austere and lacking depth in its fruit, even within the context of this important Champagne vintage. Ideally a few years of cellaring are warranted, and if the wine's acquires more body in bottle it could merit a higher score in the future. The 1996 Brut Femme de Champagne is 79% Chardonnay and 21% Pinot Noir from Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne. This is Lot: L7344, disgorged on December 10th, 2007.