Notes:
Producer note: Corinne Rousseau calls 2002 a "perfect vintage for Burgundy. There's ripe fruit, balance, perfect ripeness of the tannins and good concentration. It combines the richness of 1999 with the acidity and elegance of 1996; it's a complete vintage. We didn't have to chaptalize any of our wines, not even at the villages level. At the moment, the 2002s are less forward and expressive than the '99s were at the same time but there's an underlying tenderness to the wines and I suspect they will open quickly once they're in bottle. The fruit characteristics are interesting as well and here at the domaine, the 2002s have almost exclusively black fruit aromas. The wines are perhaps less gifted at the level of terroir than the '01s but are certainly superior to the '99s in this respect. By contrast, the '02s are definitely richer than their '01 counterparts and every bit as pure. In short, 2002 is a vintage I like a lot". For readers who may not be aware, the oak regimen chez Rousseau varies considerably, with the Gevrey up though the Mazis being aged in 2 year old wood, the Clos de la Roche and Ruchottes in 15% new wood and the "big three" in 100% new wood. The present plan is to bottle as usual in July though some of the lower level wines might be bottled in May, depending on how the fruit matures.
Tasting note: Wonderfully spicy fruit mixes with a seductive earth and truffle character plus a note of sandalwood. The edgy, beautifully complex, moderately tannic flavors offer stunning precision and exceptional persistence. This is not as big or powerful as the Clos de la Roche but it's more complete, at least today anyway. I like the style plus there is real elegance to the acid/fruit balance. In short, this is classy juice. 90-92 points - Burghound Jan '04
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Mar/Apr 04
($110) Deep, bright red. Highly nuanced aromas of flowers, game, coffee, Oriental spices and tobacco; shows a strong empyreumatic quality that does not seem to come from the barrels (only 10% new oak was used). Then sweet and silky in the mouth, with the exotic character carrying through. As with most of the other 2002s at this address, lovely ripe acids keep the wine fresh and extend its finish. Supple, fresh and classy. 90-93 points
Armand Rousseau Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru "Clos des Ruchottes" 2002
Reviews:
Burghound: 90-92
Vinous Media: 90-93
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