Served alongside the Petaluma at the Tiers 40th celebrations I wrote about yesterday (and the Montrachet) comes another for the year’s heavy-hitters file – the Armand Rousseau Ruchottes-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 2016.

For mine, Rousseau remains a Burgundian producer where expectation matches up to reality. Where every wine (typically) has the magic, beauty and precision that you want/expect/need in fine Burgundy. You can understand why people wax lyrical about red Burgundy when something like this Clos des Ruchottes hits your olfactories.

Actually, the only thing counting against it is a little disconnect on the palate. It’s not quite in perfect form just yet, the elements of fruit, oak and tannins still joining up. Still, a quibble about a magnificent wine.

Really quite bright, purplish and pure. Composed. Perfectly pitched. Near perfect balance between meaty red fruit, correct acidity and real tannins. It’s mulchy edges and then ripe fruit. The only thing missing is a little bit more bottle age. Still, glorious red fruit textured fruit, a generous silken palate and with real tannins. What a delightful Pinot. 18.7/20, 95/100.