Red stone fruits, plums, menthol, rose petals and spices take shape nicely in the 2011 Charmes-Chambertin. In 2011, the Charmes-Chambertin is a bit savory and herbal, but it otherswise shows lovely balance and terrific overall depth in a pliant, mid-weight style that is best enjoyed over the next 10-15 years.

(two-thirds from Mazoyeres): Good full medium red. Expressive nose melds redcurrant, mocha, rust, minerals and flowers, plus a suggestion of game birds. Sweet, smoky and nicely concentrated, with a musky quality to the complex flavors of redcurrant, smoky minerality, mocha and game. Finishes with supple tannins and excellent length. Very Gevrey.

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. Rousseau’s Charmes-Chambertin 2011 has an earthy bouquet, just a little stemmy but nicely defined with brambly red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and plenty of tertiary fruit, foursquare and a little austere on the saline, angular finish that does improve in the glass. This just needs to find its groove, but there is potential, especially because it performed so exquisitely a few months back.

In contrast to the reduction present in the prior wines this is really quite aromatically lovely with its expressive nose of very fresh red berry fruit, earth and humus scents. There are the same kinds of very fine-grained tannins underpinning the opulent yet reasonably precise medium weight flavors that culminate in a balanced and persistent if slightly less complex finish. Tasted: Jan 2013