Clos de la Roche Armand Rousseau 2005 (750ml)

91-93 Points, Allen Meadows' Burghound: "(Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Red) A more elegant and slightly more complex nose of red berry and blue fruit aromas nuanced with an array of subtle hints of game, spice, earth and underbrush leads to rich, intense and even more detailed flavors that culminate in a linear and driving finish that offers impressive punch and energy. Like the Mazis, there is a sleek muscularity here and a real sense of underlying tension on the explosive finish. (Drink starting 2015)." 1/07

92 Points, John Gilman, View from the Cellar: "(Domaine Rousseau Clos de la Roche) The 2005 Clos de la Roche from Eric Rousseau is also excellent, as it offers up the great sappy fruit, purity and refined structural profile of the top wines of the vintage. The depth and intensity here is a step up from the customary Rousseau Clos de la Roche, but the wine is not quite as ethereal as the stunning 2005 Charmes. The bouquet is a deep and sappy blend of black cherries, plums, bitter chocolate, herb tones, soil and a floral topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and very long, with fine tannins, bright acids that lend a great succulence to the palate impression, with fine intensity of flavor, and great balance and length. Like the Charmes, this has simply a terrific finish. (Drink between 2013-2040)" 12/06

90-93 Points, Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar: "(Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche) Good full, bright red. Reticent but pure aromas of kirsch, licorice and minerals. Bright, firm black cherry flavor shows less early sweetness than the Mazy. A bit dominated today by its rather powerful structure; very much a wine for extended cellaring." 4/07