1996 Frederic Esmonin, Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru 750ml

This initially opened with a touch of reduction though it quickly (<5 minutes) blew off to reveal an attractive and fully mature mix of secondary dark berry fruit, dried truffle, earth and game aromas. There was equally good complexity to the delicious light to middle weight flavors that culminated in a linear and slightly edgy finish that avoided astringency though at the same time, there wasn't much richness either. In sum, this is pretty rather than deep and could be drunk now or held with no fear of it declining anytime soon; that said, I would not expect any further upside development either.