Rousseau dinner

David Wainwright arranged for 14 Rousseau lovers to each bring a bottle and what a line-up we had! But I was still unprepared for how wonderful these wines would be. This was, by some distance, the most awe-inspiring wine event I've been to. The Chambertins are grand, and beautiful and charming at the same time. Words cannot do these wines justice. They were just perfect.

• 1981 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Round, oxidative, of course, but lovely balance and freshness, an oriental spiciness, a savoury bite

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Beautiful cherry fragrance, some green in there, but pure, high toned, penetrating - beautiful

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Much weightier than the 2000, but with the same cherry fruit profile, riper, deeper, more reserved, just about approachable, clearly fine and grand

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Funky nose, spice and breadth to add to the red fruits, this has really come together tonight, complete and spectacular

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Softer than the preceding wines, both in texture and in flavour profile, but again a gorgeous combination of red fruit and spice, all in perfect balance

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1998 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Regal, fine, restrained, this broadened out to reveal satiny red fruits, needs time but clearly superb

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Wow! So elegant. Fine, clean, fully expressive, absolutely enchanting

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Salty entry, tighter than the preceding wines, lighter, but one can sense the intensity there which will come out in due course

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1983 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Sweaty oxidised nose, decent sweet fruit on the palate, and red fruits at that, lots of tannin - but the nose is just too offputting

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1983 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 98 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  After the unclean Beze, this is all purity, lean, rocky, silky and powerful, but with so many subtle flavours - this may be the best wine I've ever had

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 98 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  My goodness, I'm speechless with wonder at this - it has everything - so many facets, but all perfectly proportioned, too wonderful for words

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1990 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 99 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  This goes even further, red fruits, and roses, and minerals, and there's a warmth, grand and lovable - indescribably wonderful

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1993 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Doesn't quite have the grandeur of the Chambertins, but this is again superbly poised, the fruit and spice in perfect balance

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1993 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin 98 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Darker and deeper than the CSJ, but with the same perfect balance, even more nuance, just perfect

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1993 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 98 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  A tad lighter toned than the Chambertin, less grand, more luminous, yet again that fantastic harmony

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1910 Barbeito Madeira Boal 95 Points

  Portugal, Madeira

  Salty, celery, but sweet too, and quite amazing breadth. Superb

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue