2001 Domaine Armand Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru

This is the finest bottle of Rousseau's 2001 Chambertin I have ever had. With each taste, the 2001nhas something new to say. At times, it is the aromatics that stand out. In other moments, the wine's structure, energy and overall complexity are totally alluring. Dark and brooding, with compelling inner sweetness, the 2001 simply can't be denied. It is utterly profound. It is as simple as that.

Tasted alongside the 2001 Clos Saint Jacques, the 2001 Chambertin Grand Cru possesses an ethereal, floral bouquet of raspberry jam, Morello cherries, minerals and undergrowth, gaining in intensity all the time in the glass. The palate is very natural and refined, in no way a powerful Chambertin, rather one of finesse, grace and purity. Divine. Drink now-2026. Tasted January 2014.

Full deep red, a tad less dark than the Clos de Beze. Reticent but perfumed nose hints at minerals and espresso. Juicy and dense but closed in on itself and not showing its flesh today; a sharply delineated wine with lovely cut and grip. The longest of these 2001s, finishing with firm but fine tannins and captivating, very subtle fruit and mineral notes. This will need a good decade of bottle aging, says Rousseau, who adds that it's less expressive and fleshy at this stage than the 2000 was a year ago.

Relatively pale ruby. Quite limpid. Very pale rim. Sumptuous nose and a sense of great relaxation. Though there is dimension and concentration here too. Great heady sweetness on the nose. Still much more tightly wound on the palate than the nose. Lots still to come out clearly and masses of fine tannins but for the moment it’s the nose that has evolved. Lovely undertow and length. Mid to heavy palate weight. My fellow tasters say that another bottle of this wine tasted more evolved a few days ago. Lots of sweet fruit. Sweetened up in the glass. (JR)