1996 Meursault Les Narvaux
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The Meursault Narvaux Mise Speciale is a lusher, more luxurious and deeper version of its regular cuvee. Elegant and complex aromas of white flowers, earth, nuts and stones give way to an extraordinary combination of fat, ripe, oily-textured, and supple fruit within a racy, and refined personality. Expansive, soft and mouth-coating, this tangy red cherry and mineral-flavored wine is also focused, crisp, and vivacious. To top it all off, its finish is exceedingly long, pure, and defined. It should be at its peak between 2000 and 2006. The rating, with the range of scores in parentheses, indicates the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. What's Javillier's spin on the 1996 vintage? "It has the most perfect balance between body, acid, fruit, extract, and purity in my lifetime." Importers: David Shiverick, Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; (216) 861-6800, and a Peter Vezan Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-42654293), importers include: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 848-8910.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Pierre Rovani
More reviews and scores
Very ripe, highly aromatic nose combines nuts, honey and oatmeal: very Meursault. Fat, sweet and dense, but given delineation by strong acidity. Spicy, rich and long on personality. Still, this is more impressive today on entry than on the finish.