Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2021

96 points Christy Canterbury, MW (TimAtkin.com): "Cherries and strawberries zoom from the glass and lead to more of the same on the juicy, dazzlingly pure palate. While the tannins are lightly chalky and the acidity is youthfully zippy, there is impressive harmony here already, thanks to the robust palate. The two parcels here make up almost 1.5 hectares at the domaine. (2023)"

96 points Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator): "Although fragrant and expressive, this red walks a fine line between elegance and a meaty, muscular side. Cherry, blackberry, graphite, tobacco and toasty oak flavors persist courtesy of the lively acidity, while the tannins remain assertive on the languid, mint-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2045. (12/15/25)"

96 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Cool character and refined profile in the pointillist and graceful Clos-de-la-Roche, with a broad attack that twirls elegantly on the palate around a taffeta of delicate, delicious tannins. (2024)"

95 points Charles Curtis, MW (Decanter): "This wine is sometimes overlooked because it is the only wine from outside Gevrey in the Rousseau cellar. The Clos de la Roche, however, is among the best values from Rousseau. In the 2021 vintage, the wine shows sweet cherry fruit with floral and mineral notes. The texture is supple and fleshy, and there is enough structure to carry this to a lovely finish. It is produced from one and a half hectares split between the lieux dits of the original Clos de la Roche and Les Fremières. The absence of new oak here assures an admirable purity of fruit. (10/31/22)"

93-95 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "Brighter purple with energy on the nose too. Growing fruit with each sniff, stays pure red. Quite crystalline with more depth of fruit than expected, quite nuanced at the back. A fine long finish, still discreet. Drink from 2028-2036. Tasted Nov 2022."

93-95 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is fragrant, delineated and coiled up at first, although it only takes a few swirls of the glass before it awakens. Crushed stone infuses the red fruit, and hints of oyster shells emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied and very cohesive, with finely-chiselled tannins and just a little confit red fruit that enlivens the finish, which demonstrates more persistence than the Mazy-Chambertin. Delightful. Drink: 2025-2042. (Nov 2022)"

94 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "Just like the Mazy-Chambertin, Cyrielle Rousseau’s 2021 Clos de la Roche is a perfect reflection of its underlying terroir. The bouquet here is simply gorgeous, wafting from the glass in a very deep and pure combination of red plums, red and black cherries, a touch of beetroot, mustard seed, venison, a very complex base of soil tones, woodsmoke and a nice touch of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, precise and sappy at the core, with lovely transparency, fine-grained tannins and a very long, complex and seamless finish. Great juice. 2033-2090. (Nov/Dec 2022)"

92-94 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "A markedly floral-suffused nose speaks of spiced plum and an abundance of sauvage elements. The rich and solidly voluminous medium-bodied flavors possess impressive power that really builds on the dusty, focused, muscular and highly persistent finish. This isn't as fine nor as mineral-driven, but it is quite firm, harmonious and should age effortlessly. Drink 2036+. (1/10/23)"