2001 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru

Rousseau's 2001 Grevey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques is a very pretty wine, bursting from the glass with a projected bouquet of rose petal, cassis, red cherry, cedary new oak and sweet forest floor. On the palate, the wine is youthful but expressive, with a sweet, almost candied core of succulent fruit, framed by supple tannins. At first glance, this seems to epitomize Rousseau’s elegant style, but by the time the bottle was finished, the wine had begun to seem just a touch facile and diffuse, missing the intensity and concentration that this bottling can attain.

Notably 'cool' and fresh – very different from the Chambertin (I'm not quite sure why the Chambertin was served before this wine). Racy and well balanced. Certainly a lot better than the average grand cru. (JR)

Vibrant ruby with a pale rim. Quite powerfully scented. Direct and juicy and very fine – quite developed. The tannins have largely melted. But it is now a very solid and rewarding mouthful of grand cru quality fruit. Freshness and race. Without being massive. Real lift and class. Very long. (JR)