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.
96 Points Decanter
Domaine Rousseau owns one-third of the clos, with most of it in the sunniest and warmest spot against the wall. This combines impressive depth and structure with the freshness that you always get in the best wines from this renowned premier cru. Aged in 70% new wood, this has the concentration and texture to age impressively in bottle.
95-97 Points Vinous
The 2017 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru has a very perfumed bouquet, beautifully defined with fragrant raspberry preserve, wild strawberry, rose petal and crushed granite aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannin. It is not a powerful Clos Saint-Jacques nor the most complex, yet it is utterly harmonious and so silky smooth on the finish that you will find this nigh irresistible. Sensual and gunning for top position amongst the five Clos Saint-Jacques growers in this vintage.
95-97 Points Jasper Morris
ich medium deep purple. A little whiff of new oak, 80%. This sample from new wood. A magical wine from the very start, so much grace. No specific fruit content, a little more concentration at front rather than back, or so it seems because the aftertaste stretches out almost indefinitely. The nose blossoms, losing the new oak character rapidly.