Displaying rich floral and berry-infused aromas, the Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseigneres is lively and refined - a truly delicious wine. It explodes on the palate with flavors reminiscent of juicy white currants, flowers, anise, and minerals. Pure, precise, wonderfully delineated and balanced, it brilliantly combines the richness associated with this vineyard's terroir and the vintage's zesty, high acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2007. This wine was tasted from the barrel after it had been racked. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. A year ago, Jean-Marie Guffens told me that 1996 was the greatest vintage of his lifetime. While he did not repeat that comment when I visited him in November, Guffens was bursting with pride as I tasted the wines. A Peter Vezan Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-42654293), importers include: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 848-8910, and a Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-44706293), various American importers, including Bacchus Importers (800) 525-9699.

Super winemaking defines this seductive Puligny, with wonderful mineral, vanilla bean, stone dust and lime notes, well-dosed oak accents that bring out a certain malic, milky character, and delightful, impressively ripe tropical fruit. Full-bodied, with smooth, palate-coating texture, ending in a vibrant, balanced, lime-infused finish. Drink now through 2005. 600 cases made.??–PM??Region: France / Burgundy / Puligny-Montrachet Select to Add