Revealing mineral and boysenberry aromatics, the Volnay Champans' personality is quite structured, almost four-square, medium-to-full-bodied, firm, and packed with stone and black fruit flavors. It should be at its peak between 2000 and 2005. 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: as well as for the Maranges Clos Roussot and Pommard Vignots (I tasted neither),European Cellars (Eric Solomon, tel 212-924-4949), under the Baron de la Charriere label.