2010 Domaine Armand Rousseau, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

Wine Advocate February, 2012 The 2010 Clos de la Roche is fascinating to taste after the Mazis. The Clos de la Roche is all about power, structure and length, qualities it has in spades. There is huge depth and serious extract to the fruit, with equally big tannins to provide support. Layers of intense fruit are intermingled with persistent saline notes on the vibrant, finely chiseled finish. It will take years for the tannins to start melting away, but when they do the 2010 will be a dazzling wine. Actually, it already is. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2050.

The 2010 Clos de la Roche is fascinating to taste after the Mazis. The Clos de la Roche is all about power, structure and length, qualities it has in spades. There is huge depth and serious extract to the fruit, with equally big tannins to provide support. Layers of intense fruit are intermingled with persistent saline notes on the vibrant, finely chiseled finish. It will take years for the tannins to start melting away, but when they do the 2010 will be a dazzling wine. Actually, it already is. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2050. My visit with Eric Rousseau was one of the highlights of my fall trip. The 2010s are fabulous from top to bottom. Rousseau started picking on September 22. The fruit saw about four days of cold soak followed by a cuvaison that lasted anywhere from 15 to 21 days, depending on the wine. I was equally thrilled with the 2009s I tasted from bottle. I will have more on those wines in our April issue. Importer: Frederic Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

Good bright, dark red. Complex nose mends raspberry, crushed rock, musky minerality, brown spices and a whiff of leather. Sappy, saline and pure, with rich, concentrated flavors of ripe black fruits and minerals. Finishes very long, with dusty tannins and good stony lift. Rousseau noted that he may begin using a bit of new oak for this cuvee in vintage 2012.