2009 Domaine Armand Rousseau, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

eRobertParker.com April, 2012

The 2009 Clos de la Roche is so beautiful today I could hardly blame anyone who chooses to enjoy this superb wine in its youth. Silky tannins frame an expressive core of fruit in this perfumed, polished Burgundy. The 2009 is quite a bit more floral and higher-toned than the 2010, perhaps because of the greater use of whole clusters during fermentation. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

A notably ripe and impressively well-layered mélange of red and blue pinot fruit, violets, lavender, earth and a hint of spice precedes the exceptionally rich, supple and powerful flavors that are underpinned by sophisticated tannins and a balanced, minerally and gorgeously long finish. This is strikingly complex and by far and away the best showing of this wine that I have ever seen, at least at such an early juncture and it seems to have fulfilled the promise that I originally saw from cask. Note that like many '09s that this could actually be drunk now though you would be leaving a great deal of potential on the table. Tasted only once from bottle. Drink: Try from 2021+
-Burghound.com, Tasted: Mar 29, 2013.

The 2009 Clos de la Roche is a powerful, virile wine. The fruit here shows terrific power and centeredness in its focused personality. The finish is long and intense as it wraps around the palate.

(no vendange entier Bright red. Darker fruit aromas along with some gamey reduction on the nose. Very sweet and fat on entry, then fleshy and creamy in the middle, without quite the precision or lift of the best 2009s here. Distinctly supple wine, perhaps owing to the 100% destemming, but not at all roasted. Finishes with suave tannins and firming notes of stony minerality and pepper.

Stupendously sweet and fresh with lots of subtle layers of development and still lots to give. (JR)