What does time do to a sauterne or BA?

[wdonovan]

We just uncorked a 375 of '96 (I think) Madonna BA and it was one of the thickest, fullest late harvests we've drunk in a while. The confusion came when I read the price tag at $13.25 American bucks. I know I didn't buy this more than a year (or two) ago and it hadn't survived the store since '96 so .... I was wondering why it was so cheap and so good. My theory is that time has actually enrichened this wine because I just can't believe that a BA this full could be that cheap. Can time have that kind of affect on a late harvest or is this just dumb luck?BTW I have one left.