This medium ruby-colored wine exhibits toasty oak scents and a medium-bodied, full-flavored, velvety-textured, and tangy core of cassis, succulent black cherries, and blueberries. This tightly-knit and well-crafted wine will require a year of cellaring. Projected maturity: 1999-2003. Bruno Clair described this vintage as abundant (he says his Marsannays averaged 40-45 hectoliters/hectare and his other vineyards averaged yields in the 35-40 h/h range) and perfectly healthy as not a trace of rot was spotted. He went on to say that his '96s have as much as 4 grams per liter of acid, the highest level he has ever seen in Burgundy. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.