Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos De Beze 2013

WA95: Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru was showing some reduction on the nose that was difficult to shake off, though there appears to be sufficient fruit underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a more conservative Clos de Bèze in some ways, but it demonstrates impressive precision as it fans out with gusto towards the finish. Give this 5-6 years in bottle to address the reduction issue and then I believe this will turn into an exemplary Grand Cru. Tasted September 2016.

VM94-97: Another striking wine, the 2013 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze is beautifully layered and expressive today. Violets, lavender, dark spices, mint and new leather meld together as this striking, translucent wine shows off its unmistakable personality. This is an especially refined Bèze with perhaps a bit less power than is customary, but that is not at all a bad thing. As always, the new oak (80%) is quite evident today, but that should not be an issue, as I can't imagine opening a bottle of the 2013 before its tenth birthday, and even that will be too soon for the wine to deliver the full breadth of its pedigree.