Impressively concentrated, packed with bright flavors. Shows ripe fruit, smoke and earth notes on the extremely long finish. An exciting wine that takes off like a rocket.

The ripe but not roasted nose is comprised by wonderfully complex aromatics of now entirely secondary fruit that is nuanced by notes of underbrush, earth, dried herbs and spice elements. There is still a bit of unresolved tannin to the still lightly structured medium-bodied flavors that possess very fine if not truly distinguished length on the otherwise well-balanced, rich and velvety finish. While the '90 Bèze is certainly drinking well today I wouldn't be inclined to hold it for the long-term as I sense that it may begin a graceful decline over the next 10 years. In sum, this would accurately be described as pretty rather than deep and while I have always enjoyed the '90 Bèze I find that it lacks the personality and refreshing punch of its '90 Chambertin stablemate (see herein). Multiple and mostly consistent notes of which the last was taken in 2011.

Both the Chambertin-Clos de Beze and Chambertin are more closed, deeper-colored wines than the outstanding Gevery-Chambertin-Clos St.-Jacques. It is often difficult to pick a favorite, but I thought the Chambertin-Clos de Beze to be lower in acidity and more forward. I would suggest cellaring it for 3-4 years, and I am sure it has at least 15 or more years of aging potential. The nose offers up roasted black-cherry and toasty new oak scents. In the mouth, there is outstanding concentration, full body, and a long, rich, moderately tannic finish. (RP)