2005 Maxim's (Mugnier) - Musigny

A notable ripe, incredibly complex and kaleidoscopically broad nose features a dazzling array of aromas, particularly violet and rose petal nuanced with menthol, anise, clove and cinnamon. There is a wonderfully seductive, even lush texture to the sweet, pure and refined full-bodied flavors that are harmonious and deep, with a driving tension that forces everything into striking relief yet the palate impression is pure velvet on the immensely long finish. This gorgeous and built-to-age effort is an overtly powerful yet not especially weighty wine where about the only nit on the sappy finish is a touch of warmth. This is one of the few '05s that could be enjoyed now though for my taste I wouldn't even consider opening one for at least another 5 years and 8 to 10 would be better.

Bright ruby-red. Incredible nose combines cool blackberry liqueur, violet, crushed stone, exotic spices and mocha, along with ineffable soil tones of mushroomy underbrush; not quite as high-pitched today as the Amoureuses but then this is holding more in reserve. Hugely silky and thick but youthfully brooding today, with very ripe flavors of berry liqueur, dark chocolate, mocha and earth; today the treble notes of flowers and minerals are covered by the wine's sheer volume. This amazingly long and mouthfilling wine was inscrutable from barrel a year ago, and I continue to find it extremely closed today. No doubt it will require a good 10 to 12 years of cellaring to achieve its adult form. Today it's the Amoureuses that hits my G-spot but this will be a monument.

Candor forces me to admit that mere words won't begin to do a wine like this justice so I will simply state that the Mugnier Musigny is a compelling candidate for wine of the vintage honors, which is saying something significant in such a gifted vintage like 2005. An incredibly complex and kaleidoscopic nose features a dazzling array of aromas, particularly violet and rose petal nuanced with anise, clove and cinnamon that merges seamlessly into sweet, pure and ultra refined full-bodied flavors that are harmonious and deep, with a driving tension that forces everything into striking relief yet the palate impression is pure velvet on the immensely long finish. Moreover, it delivers one of my favorite aspects of great burgundy, which is power without weight but in this case, the '05 Musigny is an enormously powerful wine but not especially weighty. In short, this is flat out brilliant and is a wine that you will definitely want in your cellar.