1973 Clos de la Roche – Armand Rousseau
The wine is lovely cherry red, slightly turning towards amber colored in the outer rim. It’s a dense looking wine but unfortunately quite dull and cloudy (I had one of the last glasses poured out of this bottle).
But what a great smell though : almost immediately opening up with a great combination of fruit, wood and floral nuances. The juicy ripe red fruit and rose petals are combined with wet tealeaves, some tar and a touch of spices, finishing with your typical “walk through the forest on a sunny day in autumn” smell (underbrush, earth and crispy dry leaves).
On the palate the balance is wonderful too : it’s supple and plush (no tannins whatsoever) and starts off very fresh, has a full bodied mid-section,
and a quite long and complex finish. All though the weather gods weren’t favorable for wine producers in 1973 in France in general and Burgundy in particular, Domaine Rousseau managed to pull of the wine makers equivalent of pulling the white rabbit out of the hat and succeeded in delivering a great bottle of pinot noir that still delivers after 40+
year, congrats!
