2012 Domaine Armand Rousseau, Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 1×1.5L

Vinous 95+

Healthy deep red. Black raspberry, cherry pit, crushed stone and smoky minerals on the almost liqueur-like nose. Large-scaled, very ripe and palate-staining, with creamy flavors of bigarot cherry, coffee and sweet oak dominating. More classically 2012 in style than the tauter Clos Saint-Jacques, finishing with substantial ripe tannins and superb length. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/03/2015]

Anticipated maturity: 2027-2042

Robert Parker 97

Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru has a scintillating, effervescent nose, the new oak beautifully interwoven into the complex red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate scents. There is wonderful definition here. The palate is very well balanced with well judged acidity that cuts a swathe through the structured red berry fruit. This is a serious Clos-de-Beze reserved for long-term ageing. Quite brilliant. [Neal Martin, 09/28/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2019-2040

Burghound 93-96

A highly spiced and exceptionally fresh, ripe and airy nose mixes a wide variety of mostly red berry fruit aromas though there are background notes of plum, cassis and lavender. The broad-shouldered flavors possess a seductive texture thanks to the copious amounts of dry extract that push the very firm tannic spine to the background. I very much like the concentration here as well as the vibrancy and this is very, very dry in the best sense of the term, indeed it is presently almost crisp yet the supporting tannins are clearly quite ripe. This should be a fantastic Beze in time. [Allen Meadows, 01/15/2014]