2014 Charmes Chambertin
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, the 2014 Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru has a slightly diffuse bouquet at the moment with redcurrant and raspberry fruit, quite effervescent and vigorous. Touch of brettanomyces? The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is just a touch of chewiness, although it is balanced and will soften with time. It closes in a little toward the pastille-like finish. When this was revealed as Armand Rousseau, I was as surprised as the other tasters in the room that were mostly nonplussed by this Charmes-Chambertin. I put a question mark next to my score, and hopefully another bottle will show as well as it did from barrel. Tasted September 2017.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(60% Mazoyères and 40% Charmes, combined when the wine goes into barrel): Bright medium red. Brambly aromas of redcurrant, minerals and dried flowers. Tighter in the mouth than the premier crus here, showing less charm and early sweetness but noteworthy intensity and a firm shape. More minerals, dried flowers and earth than primary fruit. Charmes is never an opulent wine here, noted Rousseau, who pulled up some of his "tired old vines" after the 2011 harvest for replanting. Finishes firmly tannic but not dry. Not at all a feminine style of Charmes, no doubt owing to the high percentage of Mazoyères fruit.
Two-thirds Mazoyères. Unusually intense with strong cherry fruit and a great line of pure very ripe fruit. Very gourmand! Long. (JR)
About the producer
Based in Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Armand Rousseau is one of Burgundy’s most famous estates. Revered for making unearthly expressions of Pinot Noir, the estate’s wines are some of the most collectable in the world.