If I am not mistaken, one of the Negotiant wines made by this venerable Burgundy producer, bought as a PA LCB “special” for ~ $30 / bottle last spring, when it appeared as if the powers that be in the PA LCB and the local distributor were trying to offload older Drouhin wines to make way for more recent vintages. The capsule was intact and spun; the cork was in its place and did not appear to be soaked through any more than one would expect for a 10 year old wine, so signs were hopeful that there was no excessive heat damage.
Not decanted, the wine opened with a very aromatic nose of sous bois, raspberries and bright red cherries, other red stone fruit, and Asian spices. Moderately complex on the palate, it evolved in the Riedel red burg glass over time, with a nice balance of fruit, tannins, wood, and more developed aromas and flavors. A bit of a short finish, not a blockbuster wine but quite pleasant for a 10 year old red Burgundy, certainly well worth it at this price point. 89 / 100 points, it might age well for another two to three years. I would be curious to try the same wine from a cool European cellar; however, this is one case where gambling with the PA LCB has paid off handsomely!
Alex