Laurent employed his "200%" new oak treatment on the medium-to-dark ruby-colored Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques. It reveals deeply spicy red berry aromatics and superbly silky, supple plums and strawberries in its chewy yet elegant, medium-to-full bodied, extremely oaky flavor profile. Laurent, who says the excessive oak flavors will melt away during his elevage, does not feel this wine will age well. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2007. This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. The wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Pinot Noir, a fragile varietal, reacts poorly to fining, filtration, and careless bottling techniques, I recommend caution when considering buying a red burgundy based on cask samples. I called it as I tasted it, and hope the bottled wine reflects the quality of the samples I was provided.A Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris Fax # 011-33-1-42-84-38-22), various American importers.