The Muzard 2005 Le Corton displays impressive primary blackberry juiciness, with meaty and soy-like inflections. This is admirably concentrated, clear Pinot with fruit, meat and mineral elements all collaborating for a distinctive performance. The finish is chalky, precisely as a naive belief in the conveyance of mineral character from the soil in which the vines are rooted would predict!Also recommended: 2005 Bourgogne (85), 2005 Santenay Clos Faubard (86).Much of this substantial estate’s acreage has been reclaimed by Claude and Herve Muzard from negociant commitments over the last dozen years. The wines of Santenay typically exhibit distinctly meaty and mineral personalities rather than prominent fruits and berries, and they can tend toward rusticity of tannin, all of which – in addition to their outlying location south of the white wine center of the Cote de Beaune – has contributed to an undeserved degree of neglect. The best wines at this address offer welcome value. Much of Santenay was badly hailed-on in July, 2005, but the Muzards have a vibrating sorting-table and took great pains to remove any tainted fruit that had not already fallen to the ground.Importer: Vintage 59, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966 9812.