The 1996 Gigondas Cuvee Florence is among the finest wines of the vintage. A dark ruby color with purple nuances is followed by a big, spicy, olive, and black cherry-scented nose. On the palate, this harmonious wine is supple and fruity, with good lushness, spicy pepper, and a nice texture. One of the more forward Cuvee Florence offerings, it is best drunk during its first 5-8 years of life.Jean-Pierre Cartier, who did so much to bring attention to the high quality wines of Gigondas in the eighties, seemed to slump at the end of that decade and the beginning of the nineties, but he has made a strong comeback with his current releases. Cartier produces more wines than just Gigondas, turning out one of the finest Viogniers of the southern Rhone, in addition to making very good wines in Beaumes de Venise and Sablet. His top wine is the Gigondas Cuvee Florence, a wine made from a selection of the best lots, and named after his fiery-haired daughter.Importer: A Christopher Cannan Selection, Europvin USA, Watertown, MA; tel. (617) 924-7620