1990 Echezeaux

Very bright paleish ruby. Very pure fruit – jewelly. Great balance. Super pure. Fresh and vivacious. Long and lovely. Light and fresh. Very light though. Not obviously Grand Cru fruit weight but very fine and delicate. (JR)

The 1990 Echézeaux from Rouget was delicate and mature, with notes of tobacco and leather that complemented its ethereal, sweet fruit.

Some readers may argue that the Echezeaux is as profound as the Vosne-Romanee-Cros Parantoux. Yes, the difference is negligible. Its nose offers up lavish quantities of sweet black fruits, floral, mineral, and toasty new oak scents. The wine boasts great intensity, medium to full body, gobs of black-cherry and black-raspberry fruit, and an opulent, glycerin-imbued, lusciously intense finish. More forward than the Vosne-Romanee-Cros Parantoux and not as dense or crammed with extract, it should drink well for the next 10-12 years. It is no secret that the genius behind the wines of the young Emmanuel Rouget is the legendary Henri Jayer. His 1990 offerings are a testament to Jayer's winemaking style, which, in simplistic terms, includes 4-5 days of cold maceration, 100% new oak casks, minimal racking, and bottling without a filter. Rouget's recent releases are exciting wines, including two terrific villages wines. Importer: Martine's Wines, San Rafael, CA.