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.
92-94 Points Allen Meadows
A more elegant if not more complex nose merges pretty aromas of red and dark currant, a plenitude of floral elements along with hints of leather, sandalwood and earth. There is outstanding intensity to the supple mid-palate of the big-bodied flavors that firm up substantially and immediately on the lingering and highly complex finish. The supporting tannins are slightly spiky today but because they seem phenolically mature, I suspect that they will mellow out with time in bottle.
93-95 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is an excellent wine in the making, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of red berries, orange rind, raw cocoa, rich soil tones and grilled meats that’s framed by a discrete application of cedary oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and impressively racy, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a long, resonant finish.
94-97 Points Jasper Morris
20% new wood. This is more body builder than dancer but all within the fine-grained Rousseau style. Rich full purple, this has personality. Strikingly rich on the palate while entirely retaining its poise class and Clos de la Roche style