Domaine Armand Rousseau is one of the most famous and best domaines in Burgundy. Based in Gevrey-Chambertin, the estate is formed of just over 15 hectares, over half of which is Grand Cru.
This is one of Burgundy’s greatest domaines – in terms of history, vineyard holdings and quality of wine. The original Armand Rousseau was at the forefront of the first wave of domaine bottling in the 1930s. He was succeeded by his son Charles in 1959, shortly after they had bought a significant slice of the Clos St Jacques vineyard. Today Eric, grandson of Armand, is in charge of the vines and cellar, with the help of his daughter Cyrielle.
The domaine produces pale, finely structured wines of great elegance and stamina. The simple principle of old (but not ancient) vines and sensible yields dictates the Rousseau style. Sometimes the wines can appear light in their youth, but they nearly always take on weight as they age.
97 Points Allen Meadows
The ’99 Bèze just continues to get better and better with every passing year. A flat out gorgeously complex nose is comprised by spice, earth, minerality and still fresh red and black pinot fruit aromas. There is excellent richness to the intense and beautifully well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that are blessed with plenty of mouth coating dry extract that confers a seductive texture onto the strikingly persistent finish. Like the ’99 Chambertin, while this could be drunk now I would strongly advise holding it for at least another 5 years and 10 would probably be better. Tasted many times and this only seems to go from strength to strength. In a word, exquisite.
95 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The medium to dark ruby-colored 1999 Chambertin Clos de Beze has a beguiling perfume of red cherry and violet. It is medium to full-bodied, elegant, and unctuously textured. This juicy, sweet red cherry, currant, and raspberry-flavored wine has impeccably ripened tannins detectable in its exceptionally long and delineated finish.