Pulled and stood up three days before New Years Eve. Time to see what is going on with some of the more early maturing 96 Bordeaux.

The wine was decanted for 90 minutes and was served with a rack of lamb. This wine needs a proper food paring. There are fine dusty tannins that tend to clip the finish, so food helps tame the tannin. The wine is very young but starting to show some complex aromatics and layers on the palate. I think I'll leave these wines alone until 2010. The wine is a nice ruby garnet with a bright and clear disc, no bricking. The initial bouquet was black olives but evolved into the floral, mineral and red fruit perfume that I crave from Branaire. The palate is all red fruits - cherry, raspberry, and a hint of strawberry. Floral and mineral elements accentuate the fruit. This is an elegant Bordeaux, very Burgundy like (like a Chambolle Musigny). Fine balance and a great food wine. Needs some tannin resolution and further development. The wine is not closed and shows well, but better days are ahead. If you can tolerate some tannin in the finish you may enjoy this now, but be sure to save some bottles for 2010 and beyond. I am finding the 96s may be taking longer to come around that I anticipated.