1995 Domaine René Engel Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru

The 1995 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru from the late Philippe Engel is beautiful, wafting from the glass with notes of sweet red-black fruit, incense, game bird, rich soil and toasty new oak—which integrates more and more with air. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and generous, with a lavishly textural attack, succulent acids, melting tannins and a long, penetrating finish. For a 1995 red Burgundy, this is decidedly dramatic and pleasure-bent.

Aromatically offering roasted cherries, plums, and other purple fruits, the unfiltered and unfined Clos Vougeot's mouth is intensely spiced and minerally. Toasted fruit flavors and wet, hot stones vied for my attention with the plummy, Asian spices. Powerful and full-bodied, this delicious wine should drink well between 2002-2009. Jun 1997, www.robertparker.com