Good dark red. Alluring scents of cherry, purple fruits and spices, plus a hint of game. At once velvety and light on its feet, with pungent saline minerality and inner-mouth floral lift to its intense purple fruit flavors. This penetrating, sharply delineated, weightless wine finishes with subtly complex minerality and terrific lift.

The 2014 Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru was just a little reduced on the nose and took some time to open up. The palate is crisp and firm in the mouth, quite masculine and strict. For me, I would have liked a little more flesh to come through on the finish. Certainly this does not stack up to the Ruchotte from Mugneret-Gibourg or Rousseau that I tasted, and it seems to be overawed by the delectable Charmes-Chambertin. Perhaps just enduring a dull patch? Let's see how this shows once in bottle.

Next to Clos des Ruchottes (Rousseau). Pebbly. Quite cool and late ripening. Savoury, mineral nose. Such refreshment and the fruit almost obliterates the structure. Firm and so confident. Long. (JR)