One of the most anticipated releases of the year, Oenothèque 1996 is not only one of the greatest Dom Pérignons of all, not only among the handful of the finest champagnes on the shelves this year but, more than this, it absolutely, finally and resoundingly answers the question on critics’ and connoisseurs’ lips for the past fifteen years: Will the perfect 10/10 season of 1996 (10g/L acidity and 10 degrees of potential alcohol) ever find a balance between its intoxicating concentration and its searing acidity. It will, and it has. Oh, yes! Utter restraint, glorious poise, ethereal freshness and seamlessly integrated acidity. It is impossibly youthful, unnervingly controlled and yet discloses a core of sheer energy capable of morphing its form to rise to meet any main course dish in its path. Most profound of all, it’ll get even better.