"1996 was another Pinot Noir year, cold and dry, with the acidity well-integrated in a blend of 65% Pinot Noir from Verzy and 35 % Chardonnay from Chouilly. It was a “10 / 10,” i.e. 10% alcohol and 10% acidity—a wine bursting with energy. In light of the ripeness and bright acidity, JBL decided not to do the malolactic fermentation and to ferment 7% in oak with 9g/l dosage instead of the original 12. Mid-gold in color, this blend, disgorged March 23, 2004, shows gorgeous, complex, stone-fruit aromas, with some marked toast and biscuit notes and a hint of farm butter and nuttiness; there’s an explosive, youthful fresh mousse on the tongue, richly concentrated fruit in a texture that dissolves effortlessly in a mouthwateringly dry, saline finish, like a tongue on cold steel, with that level of crisp acidity, and yet still showing fine balance."
97 points - The World of Fine Wine