The four premiers crus I tasted from the Cote de Beaune include an opulent, jammy, cherry, toasty oak-scented 1990 Beaune-Les Champs Pimont. This wine exhibits excellent extraction of fruit, medium body, a deep, supple texture, soft tannins, and a lush, heady finish. Delicious now, it should continue to age well for up to a decade. While most of the attention is focused on Faiveley's extensive premier cru and grand cru offerings from the Cote de Nuits, this firm does a superlative job in the Cote Chalonnais and the Cote de Beaune. The 1990s merit considerable interest, not only for their quality, but also for the price/quality rapport several of them offer. Importers: Henry Cavalier Selections, Boulder, CO and Ideal Wines, Medford, MA.

The Beaune Les Champs Pimonts is stylish. This wine provides wonderfully rich, vanilla-scented, ripe, black cherry fruit, a supple, velvety texture, good concentration and ripeness, just enough acidity for balance, and plenty of length in the finish. It is drinkable now and should last until 1996-1997. Faiveley aged this wine in 50% new oak casks.

The Beaune Les Champs Pimonts is a fat, plump, seductive wine that offers immediate gratification.