This ruby-colored, violet and blueberry-scented wine offers a medium-bodied, structured, and tannic core of red grapes, stones, and earth-like flavors. Its lack of density and short finish suggest it will only be labeled as an Aloxe-Corton. Drink it between 1999 and 2003. Produced from vines planted a decade ago, the Aloxe-Corton is entitled to premier cru status as it hails from Les Valozieres. In recent years, however, Mme. de Nicolay, a proud and quality conscious woman, has refused to label it as such because the wines, in her opinion, lacked premier cru quality. Whether the 1996 will be labeled as a village wine or as an Aloxe-Corton Les Valozieres will be determined at the time of bottling.