Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Domaine Armand Rousseau 2009

A ripe, expressive and exceptionally pretty nose is just beginning to reveal a touch of secondary character on the otherwise fresh dark berry fruit and exuberantly spicy aromas. There is a lovely texture and richness to the large-bodied and solidly powerful flavors that possess fine concentration in the context of the vintage, all wrapped in a hugely persistent finish where the only mild reproach is a touch of backend warmth. For my taste this has largely arrived at its peak though I underscore that there is certainly no rush to drink up, indeed this should hold gracefully over the next 20ish years.

The 2009 Rousseau Clos de Bèze is opulently ripe and lush, with intense aromas of ripe cherry and mulberry fruit and notes of violets and spice. The notes of smoke from the oak ageing are beginning to integrate, and in their place, elements of earth and roast meat are coming to the fore. The texture is dense and velvety, but the tannins are supple and fine-grained. The texture is a bit fleshy, but there is enough acidity to carry the wine to a lingering finish. The 2009 is beginning to open now; there is enough substance here to last at least another seventy years.

Reduction rendered the nose all but impossible to read save for a few pretty spice notes that could not be denied. Otherwise, the supple, round and marvelously well-detailed broad-shouldered flavors possess a silky mid-palate brimming with dry extract on the almost painfully intense and massively long finish that seems to have no end. Along with the Chambertin, I could taste this the next day. This could be one of the all time great vintages for this legendary wine and I include both the 1962 and the 2005 in that statement.