Our club had the special Burgundy Grand Cru the other night. Here is the lineup:
91 Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze
02 Drouhin-Laroze Chapelle-Chambertin
02 Domaine Arland Charmes-Chambertin
03 Domaine Arland Charmes-Chambertin
05 Nicholas Potel Chambertin
05 Louis Jadot Latricieres-Chambertin
05 Louis Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin
05 Mischief and Mayhem Charmes-Chambertin
Our cellarmaster has bought them over the years and has decided that this is a good time to taste them. The wines vary in price between 100 and 230. All Grand Cru from Cote d'or.
All exhibited good garnet red with a hint of brickling. This is after 3-4 h of decanting. The nose is quite similar, quite funky with cherrywood overtones. Each wine seems to exhibit interesting additional notes such as meat, soy, rose, leather and a healthy dose of spices. The palate gives mostly black fruit entertwined in chocolate and spices. The tannin is there, but so soft that the palate is not begging for food.
The WOTN was the 91 Rousseau, not clearly the class but somehow pleasant with a balanced finish. The two Arland were interesting for comparison because 2003 weather was scorchy hot (a lot of seniors passed away). Yet with care the wine was so well made that I could only complain on the finish. The M&M and the Jadot are all made under order from negociants, who just buy the grapes. They are very "NewWorld" to my taste.
All and all a wonderful tasting, considering that for example the WOTN was given a score of 94 by RParker in 93. Ageing has a lot to do with the taste now, as well as the price for 91 Rousseau is being traded in auction for at least 3500!