Super Bowl 2022 (Alpharetta, GA): Cloudy orange ruby; lovely nose, cranberry, sweet sour cherry, orange zest, underbrush, spice, menthol, complex, in a good spot age-wise, juicy and fresh, round and full, not the power of #2 but shows great elegance; really good; '05 DRC Grands Ech?
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Super Bowl 2022 (Alpharetta, GA): Tasted double blind. A beautiful wine that for me was the best Burg. of the evening. Incredible nose of mushroom, bright red fruit, it has some age on it. I wrote down 2005 Fourrier Grand Cru. Delicious!
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I thought this drank terrific tonight…tasted blind next to 94 Unico. Unico a baby and very different experience. The Ruchottes has very approachable cherry fruit and finish that suggests there is still ample time to enjoy my last bottle!
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Sophisticated. Youthful, primary. Can be consumed now but certainly will continue to evolve. Nice detail is that Rousseau labels this as a "monopole" since while there are other owners of Ruchottes, in his opinion, this Clos climat is a mini vineyard that he owns. Too bad Rousseau prices are so crazy these days.
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Wild berries, minerals and herbs. While the nose had no sign of the vintage greenness, the palate showed some. Still well made for the vintage. Finish was a bit short.
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Served blind, I guessed the vintage correctly, but had absolutely no clue about the vineyard. Nose was highly cherry, like a Chianti, but the palate was clearly Burgundy. Stumped I was guessing maybe a Beaune 1er.
Some people thought this wine was much older, like '92, and that speaks to how advanced this wine is at this stage. I would not age this for the long term, drink soon.
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2004 Burgundy Grand Cru Dinner (Holland Park): One of the few wines that still showed a clear tinge of greenness, but this was pleasurable nonetheless. The nose was were the green came out most, with leafy vegetable notes and a touch of raw woodiness shading more perfumed red fruit and flower aromas underneath. Just a bit distracting I thought. The palate was a lot better thankfully. It had very lifted acidity that lent its red fruited notes of sweet raspberries and strawberries a lovely purity. With time, a lovely blush of spice also started blooming beyond the midpalateh. Unfortunately, there was just a hint of bitter herb and drying tannins that left the finish awkwardky truncated, awkward at finish; otherwise, this was a very pleasurable wine that it probably drinking near peak.
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Dinner at Ming San's (Ming San's): Truth to be told, I was a tad disappointed when this was unveiled as a Rousseau Ruchottes. I normally really like this bottling, but while this was still a pretty good wine, it certainly lacked the stylish depth and quality of better vintages. It was actually the slight shade of greenness on this wine that helped us to identify it (together with its neighbour, the rather less "green" Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin) as part of a pair 2004 Burgundies when served blind. While it was not disgustingly herbal, there were clear notes of untoasted pine nuts and ginseng root alongside more red fruited aromas on the nose. This was thankfully less obvious on the palate which, like the Fourrier, showed a nice purity of expression in its nicely full flavours of red cherries spiked with juicy, orange peel acidity. It had a particularly lovely finish, nice and full, with a stream of spice and earthy mineral on the backplate. There is quite a bit in reserve yet, suggesting that the wine needs perhaps a good 6-8 years more before it really hits its stride. It will improve, but I suspect it will make a good rather than great wine.
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Popped and poured then followed for three hours. Surprisingly dark ruby hue. Fresh smells of red plum, musk, anise, lily, and cherry pits on the nose. Such a lively core of clear red berry fruit breaking in gentle waves upon the palate along with notes of iron, earth, and cinnamon. Freshening acidity balanced by tensile but filed-off tannins. Long, persistent finish of red and blue fruit massaged by earth and grip. No green notes detectable. Very satisfying wine, notable at this stage for its balance of reserved power and buoyant round fruit.
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Old World Blind Tasting Group $40+ (Bin 75): See through crimson with rusty rim; extremely herbaceous, obviously 2004 Burgundy, asparagus, dusty mineral, light red cherry, sandy; penetrating acid, good depth and nobility, rhubarb, tannin; after 3-4 hours of air this really opened up, the greenness subsided and the pure intense red fruit came out allowing the wine to shine much more than off the initial pop; very different from previous bottle earlier this week.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Bin 75): See through dull crimson with orange pale rim; aged, rusty, sour cherry, sweaty, sweet caraway, noble, stank; palate is solid with sour cherry, full, rich, mushroom, sous bois, great acid, sweet tannin, amazing balance; peaking but should be beautiful for many years to come, no pyrazine at all!; delicious.
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Some Rousseau 04's (Wine cave): This was the highlight of the 04's we tasted, not quite up there with the 04 Chambertin but outstanding all the same. A step up again in complexity with forest floor, mineral and sweet red fruits coming to the fore. The palate is also understated like all the great Rousseau wines I've had no matter the vintage. Pure class. The finish is what impresses most about this wine as it is so silky and long, even better than the Charmes was by a good deal. There is an element on the nose in all these 04's of the vintage and they probably won't last as long as the great years but they're so rewarding. The vintage is almost taboo amongst a lot of wine connoisseurs and having worked this vintage in Burgundy I can understand the bad wraps. We threw out 40-60% of the fruit on the triage table across all cru's but.................. there's always diamonds in the rough and producers like Rousseau I believe captured the essence of this vintage perfectly.
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Almost a textbook example of a closed wine. Like the Mezis, there is nothing on the nose and while the wine has good texture and body the fruit is simple and there is nothing much going on. On the plus side there was no hint of any greeness. Would have said this was a new world wine if it had been served it blind.
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Cranberry red in the glass. Extremely interesting nose with lots of earthiness. Palate opened up after 30 minutes or so. Started pretty vegetal but the cherry fruit became more noticeable with some air. Overall, pretty green due to the vintage but a great experience as it was our first Burgundy Grand Cru. Different and unique from any other wine experience I've had. Great distinction of terroir, as expected.
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Even at this young age this wine is open and complex and already showing off a lot of its potential. Feathery light on the palate with nuances of fruit-cake and spice aromas - forest floor, truffle and calm, precise finish. Dances across the tongue. Wonderful now, will be amazing in 10 years.
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Aromatically, this is wide open with a sweet spicecake aroma. In my book, this is actually a better drink today than the Chambertin. It's silkier in texture and more saturating in palate penetration. It's certainly the leaner wine of the two but today that doesn't manifest in lesser material, just a more svelte figure.
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2/6/2022 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super Bowl 2022 (Alpharetta, GA): Cloudy orange ruby; lovely nose, cranberry, sweet sour cherry, orange zest, underbrush, spice, menthol, complex, in a good spot age-wise, juicy and fresh, round and full, not the power of #2 but shows great elegance; really good; '05 DRC Grands Ech?
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2/6/2022 - Francophile1 Likes this wine:
Super Bowl 2022 (Alpharetta, GA): Tasted double blind. A beautiful wine that for me was the best Burg. of the evening. Incredible nose of mushroom, bright red fruit, it has some age on it. I wrote down 2005 Fourrier Grand Cru. Delicious!
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12/17/2021 - wa2ofd Likes this wine:
I thought this drank terrific tonight…tasted blind next to 94 Unico. Unico a baby and very different experience. The Ruchottes has very approachable cherry fruit and finish that suggests there is still ample time to enjoy my last bottle!
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7/17/2021 - princeton Likes this wine:
Sophisticated. Youthful, primary. Can be consumed now but certainly will continue to evolve. Nice detail is that Rousseau labels this as a "monopole" since while there are other owners of Ruchottes, in his opinion, this Clos climat is a mini vineyard that he owns. Too bad Rousseau prices are so crazy these days.
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7/21/2020 - wa2ofd wrote: 92 Points
Soft, red cherry, elegant. To me very inconsistent with older posted notes. Paired with rack of lamb, perfect.
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5/31/2019 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wild berries, minerals and herbs. While the nose had no sign of the vintage greenness, the palate showed some. Still well made for the vintage. Finish was a bit short.
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9/28/2018 - Bottlesofburgundy Likes this wine:
Delicious. Elegant and beautiful balance. Many years ahead. No greenness
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5/25/2017 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Served blind, I guessed the vintage correctly, but had absolutely no clue about the vineyard. Nose was highly cherry, like a Chianti, but the palate was clearly Burgundy. Stumped I was guessing maybe a Beaune 1er.
Some people thought this wine was much older, like '92, and that speaks to how advanced this wine is at this stage. I would not age this for the long term, drink soon.
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3/30/2017 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
2004 Burgundy Grand Cru Dinner (Holland Park): One of the few wines that still showed a clear tinge of greenness, but this was pleasurable nonetheless. The nose was were the green came out most, with leafy vegetable notes and a touch of raw woodiness shading more perfumed red fruit and flower aromas underneath. Just a bit distracting I thought. The palate was a lot better thankfully. It had very lifted acidity that lent its red fruited notes of sweet raspberries and strawberries a lovely purity. With time, a lovely blush of spice also started blooming beyond the midpalateh. Unfortunately, there was just a hint of bitter herb and drying tannins that left the finish awkwardky truncated, awkward at finish; otherwise, this was a very pleasurable wine that it probably drinking near peak.
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3/9/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Zachys La Paulee "Warm-up" Dinner (Lafayette - New York NY): Small glass, late night, brief note. Tasty indeed, but simple and lighter styled, which is typically a good sign for most 2004s. Faintest of bitter hints on finish.
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6/25/2016 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Ming San's (Ming San's): Truth to be told, I was a tad disappointed when this was unveiled as a Rousseau Ruchottes. I normally really like this bottling, but while this was still a pretty good wine, it certainly lacked the stylish depth and quality of better vintages. It was actually the slight shade of greenness on this wine that helped us to identify it (together with its neighbour, the rather less "green" Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin) as part of a pair 2004 Burgundies when served blind. While it was not disgustingly herbal, there were clear notes of untoasted pine nuts and ginseng root alongside more red fruited aromas on the nose. This was thankfully less obvious on the palate which, like the Fourrier, showed a nice purity of expression in its nicely full flavours of red cherries spiked with juicy, orange peel acidity. It had a particularly lovely finish, nice and full, with a stream of spice and earthy mineral on the backplate. There is quite a bit in reserve yet, suggesting that the wine needs perhaps a good 6-8 years more before it really hits its stride. It will improve, but I suspect it will make a good rather than great wine.
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3/12/2016 - DougLee wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured then followed for three hours. Surprisingly dark ruby hue. Fresh smells of red plum, musk, anise, lily, and cherry pits on the nose. Such a lively core of clear red berry fruit breaking in gentle waves upon the palate along with notes of iron, earth, and cinnamon. Freshening acidity balanced by tensile but filed-off tannins. Long, persistent finish of red and blue fruit massaged by earth and grip. No green notes detectable. Very satisfying wine, notable at this stage for its balance of reserved power and buoyant round fruit.
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3/6/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Old World Blind Tasting Group $40+ (Bin 75): See through crimson with rusty rim; extremely herbaceous, obviously 2004 Burgundy, asparagus, dusty mineral, light red cherry, sandy; penetrating acid, good depth and nobility, rhubarb, tannin; after 3-4 hours of air this really opened up, the greenness subsided and the pure intense red fruit came out allowing the wine to shine much more than off the initial pop; very different from previous bottle earlier this week.
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3/3/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Bin 75): See through dull crimson with orange pale rim; aged, rusty, sour cherry, sweaty, sweet caraway, noble, stank; palate is solid with sour cherry, full, rich, mushroom, sous bois, great acid, sweet tannin, amazing balance; peaking but should be beautiful for many years to come, no pyrazine at all!; delicious.
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10/22/2014 - AJ72 wrote: 94 Points
Some Rousseau 04's (Wine cave): This was the highlight of the 04's we tasted, not quite up there with the 04 Chambertin but outstanding all the same. A step up again in complexity with forest floor, mineral and sweet red fruits coming to the fore. The palate is also understated like all the great Rousseau wines I've had no matter the vintage. Pure class. The finish is what impresses most about this wine as it is so silky and long, even better than the Charmes was by a good deal. There is an element on the nose in all these 04's of the vintage and they probably won't last as long as the great years but they're so rewarding. The vintage is almost taboo amongst a lot of wine connoisseurs and having worked this vintage in Burgundy I can understand the bad wraps. We threw out 40-60% of the fruit on the triage table across all cru's but.................. there's always diamonds in the rough and producers like Rousseau I believe captured the essence of this vintage perfectly.
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9/20/2014 - lozatron wrote:
Went missing! No idea how but rather sad...
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9/19/2014 - Wine Expresso wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Robuchon L'atellier with Fanny.
Lovely fruits, young, powerful, balanced, great finish, matching expectation.
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9/17/2012 - mychurch wrote: 86 Points
Almost a textbook example of a closed wine. Like the Mezis, there is nothing on the nose and while the wine has good texture and body the fruit is simple and there is nothing much going on. On the plus side there was no hint of any greeness. Would have said this was a new world wine if it had been served it blind.
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2/11/2012 - toddmk wrote:
Cranberry red in the glass. Extremely interesting nose with lots of earthiness. Palate opened up after 30 minutes or so. Started pretty vegetal but the cherry fruit became more noticeable with some air. Overall, pretty green due to the vintage but a great experience as it was our first Burgundy Grand Cru. Different and unique from any other wine experience I've had. Great distinction of terroir, as expected.
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12/14/2011 - pjaines wrote:
Even at this young age this wine is open and complex and already showing off a lot of its potential. Feathery light on the palate with nuances of fruit-cake and spice aromas - forest floor, truffle and calm, precise finish. Dances across the tongue. Wonderful now, will be amazing in 10 years.
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1/2/2011 - lozatron wrote: 93 Points
Truly excellent. As expected!
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1/1/2009 - Ive Marx wrote: 90 Points
Primary as expected. A pronounced green streak, so typical of many 2004s.
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1/27/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 93 Points
Aromatically, this is wide open with a sweet spicecake aroma. In my book, this is actually a better drink today than the Chambertin. It's silkier in texture and more saturating in palate penetration. It's certainly the leaner wine of the two but today that doesn't manifest in lesser material, just a more svelte figure.
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