Starting with the 1995 vintage, Rene Leclerc is responsible for producing (en fermage - an arrangement where Leclerc does the vineyard and cellar work, gets to keep two-thirds of the production with the balance going to the proprietor) some Griotte-Chambertin. This is the first opportunity he has had to produce a Grand Cru. Dark ruby-colored, it reveals an enticing and elegant crisp cherry nose with touches of sweet spice. In the mouth, the wine displays an impressive explosion of dark berries, cherries and Asian spices. Chewy, fat, silky-textured, full-bodied and quite long, this superb wine will repay 6 years of cellaring and keep for at least a decade.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. An Alain Corcia Selection (French Fax # 011-33-3-80-22-71-46), importers include Southern Wines & Spirits in California.