1996 Deutz Brut

Pale color. Aromas of apple, nutmeg, toast and caramel, with a slightly tired whiff of crab apple. Then dry and toasty, with the strong extract of the vintage and some youthfully elevated acids. A bit sweet/sour today and in need of a bit more flavor interest. May well repay a couple years of bottle aging, but this seems less impressive than the 1996 blanc de blancs bottling I sampled a year ago. (Incidentally, two bottles of this house's flagship wine, the 1996 Cuvee William Deutz, were marred by oxidative and musty notes.) Also tasted: 1996 Cuvee William Deutz.