1990 Chambertin Clos de Beze

From a bottle tasted at the Domaine: Like the bottle reviewed at the big Chambertin vs. Clos de Bèze tasting, there are wonderfully complex aromatics of underbrush, earth, dried herbs and spice notes followed by earthy, moderately structured flavors of real distinction and good length. This bottle was also fresher than the prior one though it too has basically arrived at its peak as the flavors have rounded out and offer plenty of velvet and spice. An excellent wine that is just short of the Chambertin. Note: a magnum of this drunk in January of 2002 was materially better, with more complexity, freshness and better overall balance, meriting a score of 93/2008-20 (see elsewhere here).