2005 Domaine Emmanuel Rouget Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Cros Parantoux"

Deep ruby. The dazzling nose is an exercise in elegance, purity and transparency with ripe yet cool and reserved spicy black fruit, earth and subtle mineral notes that lead to more minerality on the precise, sweet, vibrant and harmonious flavors that are sleekly muscled on the powerful, long and classy finish. This is very "Cros" in style as it remains almost aloof in the fashion of a smaller-scaled Richebourg. A great wine in the making that can be drunk now with pleasure as all of impressive mid-palate fat renders it approachable though it's clearly on the way up and many years away from its peak. Tasted twice from bottle with consistent impressions.