Tasting Notes
Vinous 95
The 2010 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a supremely gifted bouquet with sappy red berry fruit, much more intense than the 2012 tasted in tandem. Floral scents of peony and dried rose petals join the chorus line with aeration, harmonious to a fault. The palate has real depth, gentle but insistent grip, a little grainy texture with a surfeit of sapidity towards the long and convincing finish. A long-term Clos de la Roche-free to broach now or tuck away for a few years. The choice is yours.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045
Robert Parker 95
The 2010 Clos de la Roche is fascinating to taste after the Mazis. The Clos de la Roche is all about power, structure and length, qualities it has in spades. There is huge depth and serious extract to the fruit, with equally big tannins to provide support. Layers of intense fruit are intermingled with persistent saline notes on the vibrant, finely chiseled finish. It will take years for the tannins to start melting away, but when they do the 2010 will be a dazzling wine. Actually, it already is. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2050. My visit with Eric Rousseau was one of the highlights of my fall trip. The 2010s are fabulous from top to bottom. Rousseau started picking on September 22. The fruit saw about four days of cold soak followed by a cuvaison that lasted anywhere from 15 to 21 days, depending on the wine. I was equally thrilled with the 2009s I tasted from bottle. I will have more on those wines in our April issue. Importer: Frederic Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700
Anticipated maturity: 2030-2050
JancisRobinson.com 17.5
A little softer than some. Sweet fruit rather than massive Roche expression. Very neat and well behaved but in reserve. A rather wild note on the end. No new oak.
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2034
