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Rousseau '92 and '94 Dinner
Scottsdale, AZ
Tasted October 19, 2016 by Alex G. with 265 views
Introduction
All wines purchased on release, and what a treat indeed.
Flight 1 (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée de Réserve Brut
Exotic nose jasmine, mineral dry style lovely finish. Quite good value.
White
1990 Robert Ampeau & Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières
Dark color but fruit is abundant. Viscous wine but finsh on the shorter side. Good not great.
Flight 2 (2 notes)
Red
1992 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
Best Clos St. Jacques I've ever tasted. This is a vineyard I've never gotten as crazy about as many of my Burgundy drinking friends -- until now, I get it. Stunning enticing nose, medium color, unreal power that is completely weightless. This is textbook Burgundy, bravo!
Red
1994 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques
A step down from the '92 this has some sour and bitter notes on the finish. While not ethereal like the '92 it's good -- it's denser and deeper than the '92, but just seems clunky by comparison with a dry finish.
Flight 3 (3 notes)
Red
1992 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Mazy-Chambertin
Rich and racy compared to Clos St Jacques. Slighly medicinal finish, got better with air. A very "gulpable" style of wine, crowd pleasing.
Red
1992 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin
My favorite wine of the flight (vs Mazis and Ruchottes) by a substantial margin. This was far more elegant than the other two, with weightless power, and substantial minerality. Long and delicate finish that just went on and on.
Red
1992 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes
In a lineup of superstars, something had to come in last place and this was it. The nose was funky and not in a good way. The wine came across as flabby with some bitterness. On its own I'd probably have better things to say, but after what we'd just tasted not so much.
Flight 4 (4 notes)
Red
1992 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
Wine of the night. This is funny to say, but I swear I heard the call of Tarzan when I first approached it. Such a visceral response to this powerful yet graceful wine. So much evolution in the glass its impossible to note everything I experienced. The finish was incredibly long, almost comically so.
Red
1992 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
Started much more candied than the Chambertin, and eventually became far more balanced. A brilliant wine that on its own would be a treasure. Tonight, the Chambertin was the star, but not by much.
Red
1994 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin
The opposite of the '92 vintage, with the Chambertin falling behind Beze. This had a dirtier nose, and while still quite delicious, it just didn't have quite the complexity or elegance of the others in the flight.
Red
1994 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze
Sweeter and more inviting than the Chambertin. Tremendous minerality well balanced by fruit on the long finish. An impressive wine.