2016 Armand Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 1x75cl

JancisRobinson.com – 19

Lost two-thirds of their fruit. 100% new oak. Dense and rich and yet so much more expressive than, say, Dugat-Py’s. Very rich and powerful and shaded. Dense, ripe sumptuous fruit – very ripe red fruits rather than black fruits. Crunchy and lively – not at all heavy or tannic although there is massively fine structure underneath. Deceptively clean and fresh and energetic. [29/11/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2028-2048

Robert Parker – 98

Tasted from bottle, the 2016 Chambertin Grand Cru claims the place of king of the Rousseau cellar this year, soaring from the glass with a complex bouquet of ripe red berries, cherries and plums, complemented by nuances of blood orange, peonies, raw cocoa, grilled meats and spices. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with terrific concentration, lively acids and a muscular chassis of ripe tannins that’s largely concealed by a prodigious core of fruit. Long, sapid and penetrating, like the Clos de Beze, this will make for fascinating comparisons with its 2015 counterpart in two decades’ time. [28/12/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2030-2070

Vinous – 98

The 2016 Chambertin Grand Cru has a beguiling bouquet with copious red berry fruit, crushed minerals, delicate wilted rose petal and light tobacco scents. It has a crystalline beauty. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, wonderful focus and immense poise. This is a class act with bewildering tension and incredible poise towards the finish. God made wine so it could taste like this. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. [Neal Martin, 22/10/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2055