Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Domaine Armand Rousseau 2012

A highly spiced and exceptionally fresh, ripe and airy nose mixes a wide variety of mostly red berry fruit aromas though there are background notes of plum, cassis, lavender and oak. The broad-shouldered flavors possess a seductive texture thanks to the copious amounts of dry extract that push the very firm tannic spine to the background. I very much like the concentration here as well as the vibrancy and this is very, very dry in the best sense of the term, indeed it is presently almost crisp yet the very dense supporting tannins are clearly quite ripe. This should be a fantastic Bèze in time and eventually the 2012 could rank among the great vintages for this storied wine.

Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru has a scintillating, effervescent nose, the new oak beautifully interwoven into the complex red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate scents. There is wonderful definition here. The palate is very well balanced with well judged acidity that cuts a swathe through the structured red berry fruit. This is a serious Clos-de-Bèze reserved for long-term ageing. Quite brilliant.

A highly spiced and exceptionally fresh, ripe and airy nose mixes a wide variety of mostly red berry fruit aromas though there are background notes of plum, cassis and lavender. The broad-shouldered flavors possess a seductive texture thanks to the copious amounts of dry extract that push the very firm tannic spine to the background. I very much like the concentration here as well as the vibrancy and this is very, very dry in the best sense of the term, indeed it is presently almost crisp yet the supporting tannins are clearly quite ripe. This should be a fantastic Bèze in time.

The 2012 Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru is being matured entirely in new wood as usual. That comes through strongly on the nose but there is sufficient fruit to absorb that after one more winter in barrel. The palate is extremely well balanced with that hint of licorice present right from the entry. The acidity is superbly pitched and it effortlessly glides to a long, lightly spiced, candied finish that Frederic himself commented reminded him of ""Zan"" (a French confectionary). This is a cerebral Clos de Beze that will deserve a decade in the cellar.