2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru

($179) Good medium red. Cooler, more aristocratic nose than the Clos de Beze: blackberry, violet, minerals. Supple and suave but quite pure and sharply focused, with a degree of precision rare for the vintage. Finishes with terrific grip. Like the Clos Saint-Jacques and Clos de Beze, this may well ultimately merit a higher score.

Author: Stephen Tanzer

Issue: March/April 2003

Mid to pale rim. Not especially distinct on the nose. A bit muddy. Bit tough and hard. Very chewy indeed. Hard work. But after a while in the glass it became round and quite gentle on the mid palate. Mid length.

Author: Jancis Robinson

The phenomenal aromatic complexity displayed by this wine from cask is still present with relatively tight but not hard frank, direct and robust flavors that have plenty of buffering fat and superb length. As I noted in my original tasting note, this will not compete for the longest lived Rousseau Chambertin yet it is packed, powerful and beautifully complex and is an outstanding wine in any context but particularly so for the vintage. Because there is so much fat, this can be enjoyed now but will clearly offer more fireworks in the future so I would be inclined to let this baby rest for at least another 5 years and longer if you can keep your hands off of it.

Author: Allen Meadows