From vines said to have been planted in the 1880s the Roty 2005 Charmes Chambertin Tres Vieilles Vignes announces its distinction a foot away from the glass with uncanny intensity and clarity of black fruit essences along with ineffable mineral and animal suggestions. Tactile cinnamon spiciness bitter-sweet herbs and black cherry and black raspberry concentrate (fresh yet with liqueur-like intensity sweetness and viscosity) saturate the palate and a dark and rising tide of mineral and carnal flavors meets the fruit and spice in a thunderous finish. There is mystery aplenty here with the sex appeal well beneath the surface. -DS

A highly complex nose featuring a bright mix of red black and violet aromas trimmed in moderate toast highlights very rich and full-bodied flavors underpinned by superb dry extract levels on the explosive and slightly woody but explosive finish. While a bit oaky at present there is so much extract here that it should eventually come together given the substantially long life ahead.