I have been given a single bottle of 1996 Roumier Bonne Mares. When I looked
up the price I nearly fell off the chair (the donor does know what she has
done). It has been kept in a Eurocave till now, and I have it in my own
temperature controlled "Cave". It is said to be ready now, but when would
Bourgogne experts think it would be at its peak. And secondly, how to serve
it - on bended knee with bared head, on its own, with food (if so which
dishes might best complement the wine).

Thanks in advance for advice

Gordon

On 11/27/13 10:47 AM, Gordon MacPherson wrote:
> I have been given a single bottle of 1996 Roumier Bonne Mares. When I
> looked up the price I nearly fell off the chair (the donor does know
> what she has done). It has been kept in a Eurocave till now, and I have
> it in my own temperature controlled "Cave". It is said to be ready now,
> but when would Bourgogne experts think it would be at its peak. And
> secondly, how to serve it - on bended knee with bared head, on its own,
> with food (if so which dishes might best complement the wine).

You lucky dog! You can check out recent people's impressions of the
wine on Cellartracker:

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=16024

Beyond that, I would note a few things. 1996 was a vintage marked by
tightly structured wines that were high in acidity. The Roumier Bonnes
Mares is by all accounts a great success for the vintage, but now it is
just starting to enter its maturity. Depending on how you prefer your
Burgundy, you can certainly wait as long as you wish before opening it.
Right now, it is still quite primary with fruit-dominated flavors; in
20 years, it'll likely have developed more tertiary characteristics and
have more "bottle bouquet." So, open it up when you want to and enjoy!
If you open it up in the next few years, give it a good decant to help
it open.

Mark Lipton
--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

On Wednesday, November 27, 2013 10:47:54 AM UTC-5, Gordon MacPherson wrote:
> I have been given a single bottle of 1996 Roumier Bonne Mares. When I looked
>
> up the price I nearly fell off the chair (the donor does know what she has
>
> done). It has been kept in a Eurocave till now, and I have it in my own
>
> temperature controlled "Cave". It is said to be ready now, but when would
>
> Bourgogne experts think it would be at its peak. And secondly, how to serve
>
> it - on bended knee with bared head, on its own, with food (if so which
>
> dishes might best complement the wine).
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for advice
>
>
>
> Gordon

You have a beautiful bottle of Burgundy and I would suggest a few things. I rarely decant Burgundy, allowing it to develop in the glass is one of the intriging parts of the Burgundy experience. Enjoy it with food. Burgundy is wonderful with a variety of dishes but seems to sing with duck, mushrooms, roasted meats including poultry, or cheese. Enjoy and please post a note on the wine when you drink it.