The medium-to-dark ruby-colored Santenay La Maladiere reveals sweet blackberry scents and a beautifully ripe, medium-bodied, bright, and deep core of metallic, stone, mineral, and luscious cherry flavors. Its long, soft finish ends on traces of oak spice and black raspberries. Projected maturity: now-2001. 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