A blend of Bressandes, Renardes, and Clos du Roi (“the yields were so low I had to put them together”), the 2003 Corton Vieilles Vignes explodes from the glass with waxy blackberries as well as black cherries. This sappy, extremely primary wine is medium to full-bodied, fleshy, and crammed with dark fruits displaying a gorgeous underlying minerality as well as persistence. Its tannin is highly present, solid, yet ripe. Projected maturity: 2009-2015+. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802. Readers should note that Vincent Girardin also bottles some of these same wines under the Baron de la Charriere label, imported by Eric Solomon (European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. 704-358-1565)