April 10, 2024 - Couldn't put it any better than the reviews below. This was open for business last night, just a complete and perfectly-integrated wine, with no singular characteristic stepping out in front of the others. Aromas and the palate danced from one element to another seamlessly, from fruit, to terroir, bits of game and animal, to mineral. An absolutely stunning and haunting wine. If you're going to serve with food, keep it simple. Roast chicken and potatoes. Let this wine sing because it will.
July 30, 2023 - Once again, the fresh cellar + 1999 combo bought at the domain struck again.
Very complex nose, restrained. It first made me think of a beautiful Piedmontese Nebbiolo, with spice and dried flowers, a pinch of herbs and earthy aromas on a background of black fruits.
Note that the wine was linear from its opening to the end of the bottle, no notable evolution. The set is still very young as often with a well preserved 1999!
In the mouth, it's simple: it's a symphony. It starts with the touch, enveloping and silky, the juice first coats the mouth to allow the wine to hatch with serenity. The texture of the wine is breathtaking, it is classy and racy, in a word: a lord. Then there is the depth of the wine, with delicate earthy aromas, coffee, a still juicy fruit, these subtle spices then an animal side in all finesse and elegance. And then there is the balance: the wine sings, more delicate than the Clos Saint Jacques from the same vintage, it imposes itself by an extraordinary presence, with a diaphanous tension. The finish is grandiose, always this powdery texture oscillating between dried flower and sweet spices, fantastic length that stretches endlessly...
Great Burgundy, a noble wine. 1999 evolves very slowly!
May 21, 2023 - Paired against ‘01 DRC La Tache and ‘17 Forey Vosne Gaudichots. This was unsurprisingly youthful given the strength of the ‘99 vintage and felt like it wasn’t quite at its peak. Beautiful game and mushroom nose. Palate a little firm, dark morelo cherry, dark chocolate, cardamon, super long finish. We marginally preferred the ‘01 La Tache but splitting hairs here. 98 pts
September 9, 2022 - A fairly deep, mature colour; an intense, penetrating bouquet mirrored on the palate, with mature red fruit flavours and exceptional balance; complex, profound and exceptionally long. This was my second bottle of two bought en primeur and it seemed much fuller than the first, drunk 4 years ago. Either the wine has improved or there is significant variation between bottles.
August 27, 2022 - Absolutely delicious - quite forthcoming from the offset. The spiciness on the nose had us thinking Nebbiolo before we tasted it. Extremely elegant wine. Difficult to see it getting better, but no signs of it being tired either. Will probably be at this pleateu for years if not decades to come. Stunning wine.
PS: the cork was unbelievably fresh.
August 5, 2022 - This might be my favorite burg. Amazing on the open, found its moment 15 minutes in. Do not decant, moves fast. Soft, supple, big. Long finish. The type of silky goodness that makes your cheeks grin. This is stellar all around.
March 4, 2022 - More feminine version than other vintages of this. Overshadowed by the DRCs.
February 21, 2022 - Rousseau Chambertin is near the apogee of red wine for me and I am always excited to taste it. This wine was a very pretty example of the lighter style of this wine, which might be surprising in the otherwise big 99 vintage. Definitely lighter than either the 90. 01, or 93 with very pretty strawberry notes and subtle earth tones. This was both light-medium in texture but with nice complexity if you pay attention. I actually prefer this wine when it is slightly bigger and more powerful but would never turn my nose at this vintage. Probably best on its own where it can be focused on, rather than in a big lineup of grand crus.
October 3, 2021 - A Magnificent Burgundy Afternoon (San Francisco): Lighter ruby. Strong pine needle scent. Lighter weight, complex mix of herbs, red fruit, soil, and citrus. Lighter than the Clos St. Jacques. Animal, long, and fabulous.
September 28, 2021 - Delicious now, but tremendous potential here. Very good bottle.