This dark-colored wine reveals beguiling black cherry, mineral, stone, and earth aromas. This muscular yet elegant wine explodes on the palate with a powerful fistful of ripe and lively blackberries, plums, and cherries. Its prodigious finish reveals traces of sur-maturite and loads of supple tannins. Projected maturity: 2000-2005. 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.