Ponsot's 2006 Chambolle-Musigny Cuvee des Cigales brims with bright red currant and cherry, accented by iris and citrus peel, while underlying notes of char and chalk provide contrast and a sounding- spring-board for the vivacity of fruit. There is a slightly split personality here – at least at this early stage – between suggestions of creaminess and a certain angularity of tannin in the wine's finish. I would plan to enjoy this over the next 3-5 years. Picking chez Ponsot began predictably late – on September 27 – and lasted until October 5. As might have been expected, Laurent Ponsot acted rigorously in the vineyards in the immediate aftermath of hail and eventually on the sorting table (overseen, he notes, by an especially meticulous team of three young women) to insure that any effects were minimized. (For some notes on the often unorthodox methods Ponsot employs, readers should consult my report in issue 170.) Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802