One of the finest Burgundies I tasted in June, the dark ruby-colored Richebourg offers a compelling, highly-complex nose of super-ripe cassis, plums and black cherries. Its awesomely concentrated and massively-endowed thick-textured personality is packed with chewy, fabulously extracted cherry flavors intermingled with Asian spices, cinnamon, and notes of underbrush. Gorgeously structured and incredibly long, it will be at its peak between 2004-2012+.- PR

(94+ points) Saturated red-ruby color. Very deep, slightly reduced aromas of blackberry, roasted coffee, tar and smoke; became fresher with aeration. Huge and quite backward; muscular and powerful. A wine of great vigor that conveys an impression of strong acidity. But sappy, juicy and palate-staining. Distinct note of licorice in the mouth. Finishes with substantial, firm tannins that will require several years of bottle aging. -By Stephen Tanzer on March 1998