Produced from the Les Borniques and Les Plantes vineyards, this dark-colored wine exhibits an extroverted nose of black cherries, blueberries, violets, and toast. This offering is powerful, intense, and profound. Its full-bodied, thick, and muscular core of inky dark fruits, minerals, and flowers is juicy, plump, broad, yet has an appealing refinement. It is an extremely well-made wine, proportioned, balanced, flavorful, and possessing a long, supple finish. It should evolve beautifully with cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2008.
Philippe and Vincent Lecheneaut produce wines that resemble them - strong, muscular, and expressive. In the past I have described certain wines as being like ballerinas, well-known actresses, football players, etc. These are rugby players, strong, rough (at first), but explosive, with considerable stamina (staying power). I tasted these wines twice, once in November, 1997, and then again in late January, 1998. At my first tasting the wines were quite backward, oaky, and tannic but two and a half months later they had softened while still displaying loads of fruit. Some of these wines are worth making every effort to locate.
Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083.