Tasting Notes
Vinous 93+
(very much a cabernet-dominated vintage, with 57% cabernet sauvignon and 36% merlot) Bright medium ruby. Highly complex aromas of blackberry, violet pastille, eucalyptus, leather and game. Wonderfully sweet but with terrific grip, even a touch of youthful austerity. Very classy, subtle wine with terrific inner-mouth energy. Builds very slowly on the back half, finishing with noble, fine-grained tannins and terrific grip. This makes the 1995 seem almost cooked by comparison. Still needs at least five or six years of cellaring. "We always had unusual tastes in this wine, like eucalyptus and menthol, due to the cool September nights," noted Ducasse.