We are happy to report that this Combottes is sensational after opening a bottle that has been in our cellar for a few years. This premier cru site in Puligny is one of the few that are on the border of Meursault, with this vineyard in very close proximity to Meursault Charmes and Meursault Perrieres. This closeness to Meursault imbues these wines with similarities, and Combettes is considered a site that shows the aspects of Puligny and Meursault. The thin topsoil here with marl and clay is one of the optimal terroirs for Chardonnay, naturally making Combettes one of the top vineyards in Puligny. 
The 1996 vintage from Ampeau is truly exceptional, and we have tried countless bottles from this vintage with much success. They are wonderful, classic examples of White Burgundy, and while the Ampeau has a large library of wines, the stock is dwindling. Each batch released sees a slight price increase over the previous one, and we always recommend grabbing some before the prices increase again. Similar wines from this vintage and vineyard are rare, and those that can be found come with pricing double, if not triple, Ampeau's version. We have a limited amount that has been released directly from the domaine, and it's an excellent buy for white Burgundy with age that could spend more time in the cellar with no issue. It gets a big recommendation from us with an EFW score of 95!