Chambertin, Domaine Armand Rousseau 2000

This is gradually developing into a really beautiful Chambertin with its lovely array of spice, earth, underbrush, game and a just about fully mature mix of red and blue pinot fruit aromas. There is excellent richness and that beguiling sense of energy to the medium-bodied flavors that match the fine complexity of the nose before terminating in a lingering and velvety finish that displays perfect balance. For my taste this is close to being fully ready but I would still suggest holding this beauty for another 5 to 7 years first though like the ’00 Clos de Bèze, it would not be a flagrant crime against winedom to open a bottle now. Drink 2020+

I was awe struck by the simply phenomenal complexity displayed by this wine. It is as if each wine in this range kept adding yet one more nuance and the '00 is in the league of the unbelievable '96 at the same stage of its development. This is more linear than the Clos de Bèze with frank, direct, robust flavors that stop just short of being raw. The length here is mind bending and while this will not compete for the longest lived Rousseau Chambertin, it is packed, powerful yet for all the power, there is all this incredible complexity. One can get lost in wines like this.