The history of Domaine Emmanuel Rouget is forever tied to the famous vigneron Henri Jayer, Emmanuel’s uncle. By the early 1980s, Henri had already become one of the most legendary winemakers in Burgundy, influencing a generation of young vignerons in Burgundy and around the world. Henri began to think about the future of his domaine and though he had two daughters, neither of them were interested in making wine. In 1985 he took on his nephew Emmanuel Rouget as his protégé and began leasing some of his vines to him. Over the years, Jayer gave up more and more vines to his nephew.
In 2001, following his retirement, all of his vines went under the control of Emmanuel Rouget, including the Georges Jayer vines, which have been vinified in the cellar of Rouget since 2002. Since 2011, the control of the domaine has passed to Emmanuel’s two sons Nicolas and Guillaume. Nicolas keeps watch over the vineyards while Guillaume is principally in the winery.
94 points Allen Meadows
A ripe, expressive and airy nose that combines both upper and mid-level register fruit notes that include red pinot, black berry and violet notes trimmed in moderate wood spice as well as natural spice notes of clove and anise that can also be found on the round, rich and beautifully balanced big-bodied flavors that are powerful, long and more stylish than usual. This is a terrific Ech that should be capable of at least a decade’s worth of improvement.
93 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
From two parcels abutting Les Suchots, the Rouget 2005 Echezeaux displays scents of dried cranberry, strawberry jam, sweet spices, mint candy, and vanilla and caramel hints of its all new barrels. Richly fruited, with a jellied, toasted and roasted personality and an overtly creamy, fatty feel on the palate, it finishes with a sweet, jellied fruit character, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, caramel and resin. I much prefer the more oak-resistant, brighter, and more carnal character of the Beaumonts today, but you certainly can’t fault this flattering Echezeaux on its ripeness, richness, or generosity.