Consistently of grand cru quality, the Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques is a breathtakingly great wine. Aromas of juniper berries, smoked bacon, spices and dark berries and gorgeously delineated flavors of fresh herbs, roasted duck, and crisp cherries are found in this complex, full-bodied wine. Structured and tannic, it requires 7 years of cellaring and will then provide outstanding drinking for 8+ years. This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. The wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Pinot Noir, a fragile varietal, reacts poorly to fining, filtration, and careless bottling techniques, I recommend caution when considering buying a red burgundy based on cask samples. I called it as I tasted it, and hope the bottled wine reflects the quality of the samples I was provided. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

Silky and full of dense, chewy cherry and licorice flavors accented by spicy oak, this is a tasty, solid red for early drinking. 441 cases made. -PM