Domaine Armand Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin Clos Des Ruchottes 1996 75CL
Description:
96 points Wine Advocate
Pierre Rovani’s archived note quotes Charles Rousseau remarking that the 1996 might turn out superior to the 1990 Clos des Ruchottes. Judging them together, Charles was spot on. This brilliant grand cru has an open, generous, very expressive bouquet with fresh strawberry, iron piping, damp soil notes and later a sprig of wild heather. It is absolutely glorious. The palate is underpinned by firm tannins and decked out with dark berries and sloe, a touch of black truffle peeking its head out from under the covers toward the tannic finish that is like walking down an unlit alley at midnight. I suspect that the 1996 has a long life ahead of it. There is an overwhelming sense of aristocracy here, a Clos des Ruchottes with pretensions towards Clos-de-Beze! Superb.
92 points Burghound
The nose on the '96 Clos des Ruchottes is stunningly elegant with really dazzling purity of secondary fruit aromas that lead to relatively supple medium weight flavors underpinned by now largely resolved structure and bright but well-integrated acidity. As it usually is, this is quite earthy with a truffled-quality to the delicious, highly complex and impressively persistent finish.