1996 Meursault Rougeot
By Domaine Coche-Dury
1996 Meursault Rougeot from Domaine Coche-Dury, Burgundy, France
The 1996 Meursault Rougeot from Domaine Coche-Dury is an exemplar of the prowess that Burgundy's terroir and a proficient winemaker can coalesce to achieve. This particular vintage stands as a testimony to the meticulous vinification and adept craftsmanship that Domaine Coche-Dury is renowned for.
Exceptional Vintage Clarity
The climatic idiosyncrasies of the 1996 vintage have imbued this Meursault Rougeot with distinctive characteristics. A moderately warm summer followed by an unexpectedly cool August led to a prolonged ripening period, fostering an elegant tension between acidity and richness in the grapes. Combined with ideal harvesting conditions, necessitating deft timing, the resultant wine has matured into a harmonious expression of the Rougeot terroir.
A Distillation of Time and Craft
The 1996 Meursault Rougeot captures one's palate with an alluring dance of minerality and subtlety. On the nose, it teases with a discreet bouquet of toasted hazelnuts intertwined with whispers of vanilla and mellow stone fruits. The palate unfolds gracefully, evoking the lushness of ripe orchard fruits cushioned by a refined oaky poise, which comes from its judicious aging in French barriques. The finish, lingering and complex, carries forth the lineage of its vintage with aplomb.
Pertinent for fine wine investors, this 1996 vintage has reached a stage where its value is derived not just from its drinking potential but also from its scarcity. A bottle such as this represents not merely a sensual indulgence but also a sagacious investment.
An Investment in Liquid History
In conclusion, this 1996 Meursault Rougeot is a remarkable find from Domaine Coche-Dury. It is a collector's gem that burgeons with both mature complexity for the connoisseur and appreciative acumen for the investor – a truly fine selection worthy of any esteemed Burgundy repertoire. The elegance that time bestows upon well-crafted wines shines brightly here, encapsulating both the exemplary conditions of the vintage and the abiding expertise of its vintner.
Market price (GBP)
£15,750.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
1050
Scores and tasting notes
The 1996 Meursault Rougeot has a killer nose that knocks the senses sideways with its intense mineralite that renders it more like a Chevalier-Montrachet. The palate has exquisite poise and harmony, a little more refined and controlled compared to the 1995 with again, a linear and taut, Puligny-inspired finish that is very long. Certainly, this is one of the finest Meursault Rougeot that I have tasted from the domaine. Here is another raft of wines from the most feted and yet still mysterious Cote de Beaune growers. Jean-Francois Coche’s reds are more elusive than his whites, but they can be astonishing. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 26 February 2014