The 1999 Clos de la Roche from Armand Rousseau went through an awkward youth, when it felt hard and rather disjointed. Now with 15 years on the clock, it is showing better than it used to. The nose is broody and taciturn at first, eventually revealing dusky, brambly red fruit with hints of cola and soy. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy core of red fruit and well-judged acidity. The tannins are much finer than I recall, having softened with time, and there is an appealing weightless intensity toward the finish. No, it is not one of the Charles Rousseau’s best 1999s, but it is finally beginning to show its class. Drink now-2020+. Tasted January 2014.

Full ruby-red color. Ripe, vibrant aromas of black cherry, smoked meat, mocha and coffee. Silkier on the palate than the Mazis, with cherry and licorice flavors. This, too, shows rather pronounced acidity, but has the texture to support it. Finishes bright, long and tight, with noticeable acids and firm tannic spine. Needs considerable time in bottle but offers excellent potential.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 31/08/2001 The dark-colored 1999 Clos de La Roche has herbal, blackberry fruit scents. It is medium-bodied, foursquare, and somewhat rustic. This wine has excellent depth of cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and raspberry fruit that lead to a firm, solidly structured finish. Drink it between 2004 and 2010. ()

Considerably more austere and reserved than the foregoing wines with serious tannins, good weight and solid length. The best Rousseau Clos de la Roche in several years.

Retail price in 2006 when The Sampler opened was £150. Extremely sweet and voluptuous – almost over the top. Full-blown. So sweet, ripe and heady it smells like treacle-toffee ice cream with the merest hint of rhubarb. So gorgeous!!! Why can’t all red burgundy deliver this much pleasure? Rich, sweet and long. But not heavy at all. Lush just doesn’t cover it. Neatly gathered up on the finish. (JR)