The difference between Chambertin and Clos de Bèze is sharply etched in 2004 as this is cooler, bigger, richer and more powerful though less elegant and with a more limited range of spices specifically and aromatic breadth in general. The medium full flavors are reserved, tight, precise and very pure with extraordinarily good punch and precision, all wrapped in a firm, dusty and linear finish. I particularly like the mouth coating quality of the flavors as there is ample dry extract here, which serves to perfectly buffer the firmly tannic spine. Outstanding stuff and while not a truly great Rousseau Chambertin, it's knocking on the door.

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Good full red. Tight, pure nose hints at black cherry, licorice and minerals; showing more oak today than the Beze. Cooler and more vibrant today than the Beze, coming across as tighter but less voluminous, with less early sex appeal. Medicinal red and black cherry dominate in the mouth. The fireworks come on the back end, which features complex accents of licorice and pepper; a saline, dusty impression of extract; serious tannic spine; and lovely lingering perfume. Should be long-lived in the context of the vintage.

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