Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir

A crazy nose. Smells like a Barolo. Stinky tar, intense and full. Tobacco and wood. Odd. Not unpleasant but would never think this was burg?

The 2019 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a very elegant bouquet of red berry fruit, briar, crushed stone and rose petal, and is, so it turns out, Very Rousseau-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, a silver bead of acidity and plenty of energy, with wonderful tension and verve toward the finish. This is a Charmes-Chambertin with great pedigree and will give many years of drinking pleasure. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)

After a really great showing of Dujac’s 2013 Charmes last week I was excited to check in on Rousseau’s. It’s a whole other level. It’s stunningly perfumed and its gorgeous aromatics leap from the glass after really hardly any aeration. It’s juicy, floral and super expressive holding nothing back as it flaunts a melange of piercing red fruits, rose petals, exotic spices and just a hint of damp earth. Ethereal palate with a silky texture and an explosively long finale. Its elegance is really off the charts. Rousseau nailed this vintage and everything is in total harmony in its superb showing already, with a long glamorous life ahead. 💨🔥

Of course my first time having Grand Cru Rousseau out of half bottle. And with age no less. But La Tour d’Argent has such a magnificent selection of half bottles and I was super excited to order this but not sure how it would show. It was absolutely stunning. Its mesmerizing bouquet wafts from the glass and the palate shows superb depth, purity and energy, with an incredibly persistent finish. Grateful for two perfect showings at one the most perfect places to drink wine in the world.

It has an incredible perfume that wafts from the glass upon the very first pour. It’s floral, juicy and super expressive with an array of piercing red fruit, subtle earth, rose petals and spices that come in full throttle. The wine oozes elegance. Every 13 I try from Rousseau is spot on. And they’ll only get better. This 13 Charmes continued to unfurl and gain weight and complexity over the course of the night. Really dig the high acid vintages from Rousseau. Fantastic bottle.

Dark ripe fruit. Stop quite intense and restrained. Good

Surprisingly light. Delicate and fun but not the concentration I was expecting.

GC Rousseau nightcap in honor of La Paulee 🥰

1997

Transparent, gorgeous nose, purity. More lithe than bodacious