Domaine Armand Rousseau   Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru

2005 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru

By Domaine Armand Rousseau

2005 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy, France

The exquisite 2005 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau commands attention as a breathtaking representation of Burgundy’s venerated terroir. This vintage, with its sublime balance and depth, charts a course through the storied lands of one of the region's foremost vineyards, presenting an investment-worthy bottle that is both a collector's jewel and a hedonist's delight.

 

Exquisite Vintage, Exceptional Provenance

Reflecting on the luminous 2005 vintage, one must note the exceptional climatic conditions that served to create wines of profound structure and longevity. These conditions yielded a deeply concentrated yet magnificently refined rendition of Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru that ranks amongst the most fêted of Domaine Armand Rousseau's offerings.

 

Terroir's Triumph: A Singular Sip

In the glass, this formidable wine reveals a multifaceted bouquet intoxicating in its complexity; ripe black cherries entwined with earthy undertones and subtle hints of rose petals and spices. The palate is equally elaborate, offering layers of dense fruit seamlessly interwoven with silky tannins that suggest immense promise for further evolution within the refinement of a discerning connoisseur’s cellar.

A hallmark of Burgundian mastery, the 2005 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze prides itself on its impressive finish—lengthy and persistent—ushering in echoes of minerality that pay homage to its cherished Clos-de-Beze soil.

Esteemed collectors and investors alike will appreciate the undeniable stature and poise of the 2005 offering from Domaine Armand Rousseau. As it continues to evolve, this Grand Cru confirms its position as an unmissable cornerstone for any diversified fine wine portfolio. In terms of investment potential, one would be remiss to overlook this captivating liquid tapestry—weaved so eloquently in 2005—which eloquently speechifies the nobility of Burgundian winemaking.

Current market price

£55,650.00

12x75cl

Highest score

97

POP score

3273.53

Scores and tasting notes

96-98

The 2005 Chambertin Clos de Beze offers alluring aromas of licorice, mint, vanilla, plum paste, cherry preserves and rose petals, and seduces the palate with silky, incredibly refined texture and several octaves of fruit, herbal, floral and mineral notes, leading to a reverberative finish in which fruit pit and stony, chalky elements lend a sense of dark, weighty authority and an umami-like, meaty savor promotes uncontrollable salivation. No layering or mixing of metaphors can hope to do justice to the layering and concatenation of flavors on display. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didn’t force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask “why change the recipe?” while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Importer: Frederic Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2007

Vintage performance