2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, Clos Saint-Jacques, Bottle (750ml)

RP97 "One of the great renditions of this cuvée in recent times is the 2005 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques, a magical wine that unfurls in the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of red berries and plums mingled with hints of raw cocoa, violets, blood orange and peony, complemented by enticing carnal bass notes. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's seamless and complete, with fine concentration, racy but ripe acids and ample reserves of fine, powdery tannin, concluding with a long and sapid finish. The 2005 Clos Saint-Jacques is a decade away from full maturity, but its reference-point quality has long been impossible to miss. This bottle, enjoyed in a Burgundian restaurant, only amplified my regret that I have none of this particular vintage in my own cellar." WK for TWA July 2020

VM97 "The 2005 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru delivers everything you really want from this Grand Cru in all but name. The nose has undoubtedly opened up a little since I tasted a ferociously backward bottle in Hong Kong, yet there is some way to go. Tightly-coiled red fruit, dark cherry, pressed rose petal and clove. The palate is the old iron fist in a velvet glove. It is beautifully defined by its filigree tannins, effortless and harmonious, with a gentle crescendo towards a finish that seems to envelop the senses. You will be smitten by its charms. Tasted at the Southwold Burgundy dinner at Hatched restaurant." NM for VM Jan 2023

BH96 "A ripe yet cool and wonderfully fresh nose is just beginning to display subtle secondary nuances and is composed mostly by red berry fruit, discreet spice and earth, all of which is trimmed in an extremely subtle touch of oak. There is fine delineation and plenty of minerality on the utterly delicious middle weight flavors that are perhaps a bit less powerful than one might expect in the context of the vintage on the reasonably well-balanced and gorgeously long finish. I say reasonably well-balanced as there is a hint of warmth but it's not enough to compromise the sense of harmony. This decidedly serious effort is very much still on the way up and while it could be approached now, another 10 to 15 years should certainly return benefits. Tasted several times in the last 5 years with good consistency." AM for BH Mar 2019