1988 Joseph Drouhin, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru, Les Amoureuses 1x75cl

John Gilman – 88-91

Like many of the 1988 Drouhin wines that I have tasted over the last few years, the ’88 Amoureuses combines outstanding aromatics with a palate that is still a bit pinched between its acids and firm tannins. Six or seven years ago I had no reservations about the fruit not outlasting the tannins, but a note of caution may well be called for with some of these wines. The nose on the Amoureuses is first rate, offering up scents of black cherries, woodsmoke, fresh herbs, strong minerality, coffee and cedary, spicy wood. On the palate the wine is fullish, intensely-flavored and quite soil-driven, bit with a bit of hard tannin clouding the long finish. How much this wine ultimately softens and blossoms will determine just how good it can eventually be- right now the score is quite conservative. [01/04/2006]

Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025