Allen Meadows - Score: 94 (2016 June)

In its youth this possessed one of the most amazingly complex panoply of aromas that one could imagine and it's still remarkably youthful and even today there is only a trace of secondary character on the ripe and ultra-fresh nose of various red berries, earth, bitter chocolate and anise hints. There is superb intensity to the full-bodied and keenly focused flavors that, like the '96 Bèze (see herein) are not especially dense but do lead to a beautifully textured finish that simply goes on and on and with no hint of dryness. Note that while this could certainly be enjoyed now at almost 20 years of age, I will continue to hold my small remaining stash for another 7 to 10 years first. While not among the best examples of Chambertin the domaine has ever made, it is among the great wines of the '96 vintage. Tasted multiple times with consistent notes and twice in 2016.