1996 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru
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Tasting notes
This is still quite deeply colored even though the nose is clearly showing plenty of secondary development with classic Nuits aromas of earth, leather and a hint of the sauvage that is also picked up by the rich, vibrant and velvety middle weight flavors. There is a lovely texture to the almost fully resolved flavors that finish as well as excellent length. While the acidity is not invisible, this is one of the riper '96s of my experience and overall, this is drinking perfectly now and should continue to do so for years to come. Note that the tannins are all but fully resolved and thus I see no further upside development potential.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Allen Meadows, Burghound
More reviews and scores
This dark-colored wine aromatically displays cassis liqueur, road tar, blackberries, and dried prunes. This backward, austere, muscular, broad-shouldered behemoth is velvety-textured (but don't be fooled by this youthful trait - it will demand patience!), gorgeously focused, full-bodied, and packed to the gills with black fruits, metal shavings, minerals, and stones. Its exceedingly long finish reveals more dense fruit and copious quantities of tannins that will shut this wine down for a half-dozen years or more. With cellaring, however, its personality should blossom magnificently. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2012. This offering is fabulous! Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524.
Slightly deeper ruby-red. Brooding but pure blackberry and licorice nose. Sweet entry, then more powerful and muscular, with an impression of higher acidity. More tannic but very long. This seems a bit disjointed today, and in need of further rounding out in barrel. But may possess the strongest sheer material of all these '96s.