The Batard-Montrachet, like many wines from this fabulous vineyard, benefitted from the purity and delineation the vintage's hallmark zesty acidity provided. Its nose exhibits outstanding richness, admirable depth of ripe fruit and perfumed flowers. It has full body, an oily texture, and an intensely refined yet powerful and broad core of earthy, floral and minerally flavors. This wine's exemplary finish reveals crystal-clear purity and appears to last at least 40 seconds. It should be at its best between 2002 and 2010. As I stated in my report on the 1995 White Burgundies, I have seen continued progress at this estate since the 1992 vintage. 1996 is no exception to this trend as Bernard Mollard (Marc Morey's son-in-law and the estate's director) crafted his finest wines to date. Mollard's malos started late (normal for this vintage) but only after he heated the cellar. With the '96 vintage he stirred the lees once a week until the malos started because he felt the high levels of acidity needed the additional body provided by this batonnage. All of Mollard's wines were bottled in September, 1997. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel (202) 832-9083.