The dark ruby-colored Volnay Santenots offers an intense nose of ripe black fruits and hints of tar. Its character is marked by a medium-to-full body, a velvety texture, great depth, and layered sweet plums, blackberries, and minerals. Projected maturity: 1999-2004. The score, on a range and in parentheses, indicates that the wine was tasted from barrel. Vincent Girardin's 1996s are generally fresher and more supple than his 1995s, but are not as concentrated or structured. Since he personally prefers softer styled wines, Girardin prefers the 1996 vintage. My feeling is that many of his 1995s will develop better over time than these delicious mid-term drinking wine. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802