The medium-to-dark ruby-colored Beaune Les Vignes Franches aromatically displays loads of sweet red and black cherries. On the palate, this medium-bodied, velvety-textured wine is super-ripe, expansive, expressive, and densely packed with candied red fruits and traces of minerals. It should be at its peak between 1999 and 2003. Vincent Girardin's 1996s are generally fresher and more supple than his 1995s, but are not as concentrated or structured. Since he personally prefers softer styled wines, Girardin prefers the 1996 vintage. My feeling is that many of his 1995s will develop better over time than these delicious mid-term drinking wine. Importer: as well as for the Maranges Clos Roussot and Pommard Vignots (I tasted neither),European Cellars (Eric Solomon, tel 212-924-4949), under the Baron de la Charriere label.