Last night we had the unique (at least for me) chance to compare these two amazing Rousseau wines side to side, plus sharing a number of other excellent bottles. This wonderful opportunity was provided by Robert in honor of yet another of his birthdays. The tasting was safely distanced, and held outside to maximize Covid safety. The outside part does, in my experience, make it more difficult to taste, and in particular to assess the fine points of the nose of the wines, but in our current times seems the safest way to get 5 people together for such an event. Wines were mostly double decanted 2-3 hours before, except the 99 Petit Monts, which was popped 1/2 hour before (there’s always someone who doesn’t get the memo).
1996 A. Rousseau Chambertin–Wonderfully enveloping dark red berry/plum fruit and spice on the effusive nose. The palate is similar–mouth filling and welcoming with nice length. There is acid here but it’s just part of a perfectly balanced whole–nothing to me me that would have identified this as a 96. (this would be a sort of ‘so there’ wine to serve to anyone having doubts about the 96 vintage).
1996 A. Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze–Very similar but slightly higher toned nose that is just a hint more reticent than the Chambertin. Palate is to me a little more complex. While the Chambertin is more of an ‘in your face’ full blast, the Clos de Beze has more defined layers for me that your brain can march it’s way through. I preferred the Beze; others preferred the Chambertin. Hard to make a distinction, as these were clearly the best wines I’ve had in a long time.
Other wines from the evening:
1999 Drouhin Vosne-Romanee ‘Petit Monts’–Beautiful nose of high toned red fruits (more on the raspberry part of the spectrum). Palate has settled into a comfortable maturity, with none of the “gee, I wish I had waited a few more years” feel that the 99’s had for quite a while.
2002 Drouhin Vosne-Romanee ‘Petit Monts’–nice to compare–this wine is less mature, still quite enjoyable. Nose is a little more restrained, but still a pleasure. Palate still has some unresolved tannins. Quite nice right now, but if I actually had some, I’d wait another 2-3 years.
2001 Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Clos St Jacques’–Ripe cherry nose with a hint of mint. Mid-weight, sweet palate with well integrated tannins. Nicely mature and in a good spot now.
1999 Roty Mazy-Chambertin–No doubt about who made this wine in the first few seconds. Smoky oak on the nose, along with gobs of dark black/red fruit. The palate is rich with concentrated fruit and long. Very interesting now, but I think will integrate more over the next 5-10 years.