2016 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru
By Domaine Armand Rousseau
2016 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy, France
The 2016 vintage in Burgundy was one rife with climatic challenges; a test of fortitude and finesse for vintners. Yet, it is exactly these vintages that separate the wheat from the chaff, giving distinction to great winemakers like Domaine Armand Rousseau. The 2016 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru from this storied establishment emphatically displays how tribulation can yield triumph.
Nuance and Nobility: A Study in Resilience
The 2016 growing season was threatened with frost and mildew, reducing yields and necessitating scrupulous selection in the vineyard. This rigorous curation process has culminated in a concentration of intensity only achievable in such a nervy year. The Grand Cru, an exemplar of its kind, showcases a palette of profound complexity—dark cherry interlaced with hints of moist earth and truffle, an olfactory ballet ensconced in structured silkiness.
A Vintage of Vibrance and Vigour
On the palate, the 2016 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru offers a rhapsody of balance and power, with layers opening to reveal subtleties of spice box and black fruit compote. The tannins are as finely woven as Chantilly lace, asserting their presence without overcoming the symphony of flavours. Ageing potential? Monumental. This wine promises to evolve with graceful nobility over time.
For those invested in fine wines as a tangible asset class, pivotal years like 2016 make for exciting opportunities. Wines from these challenging harvests have surprise, resilience, and story—a trifecta that can attract keen interest from collectors and connoisseurs alike.
In summary, the 2016 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau stands not merely as a testament to the skill and determination of one of Burgundy’s most revered producers but also as an investment-worthy centrepiece for any discerning portfolio. Time will no doubt continue to burnish its allure, enhancing both its complexity and its estimable cachet in the sanctums of fine wine aficionados.
Market price (GBP)
£9,450.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
525
Scores and tasting notes
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 Bèze, this will make for fascinating comparisons with its 2015 counterpart in two decades' time.
William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 9 January 2020
The 2016 Mazy-Chambertin Grand Cru has a really beautiful bouquet with pure dark cherry and raspberry scents intermixed with orange blossom and apricot. This has wonderful delineation and focus. The palate is tighter and a little more structured than the Charmes-Chambertin, with a gentle grip in the mouth and a fine bead of acidity, segueing into darker fruit toward the finish, with just a hint of spice on the tender finish. This is a hauntingly beautiful Mazys in the making.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 December 2017