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.
90-93 Points Allen Meadows
Here reduction knocks down the nose but there is lovely freshness and verve to the muscular medium-bodied flavors that brim with both minerality and dry extract that helps to buffer the markedly firm tannic spine shaping the dusty, serious and youthfully austere finale. This is very promising and it should make for an excellent LSJ in time. *Burghound Outstanding!*
91-93 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques offers up an attractive bouquet of red berries, cassis and plums mingled with nuances of candied peel, raw cocoa and grilled squab. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with a ripe core of fruit, melting tannins and succulent acids.
91-94 Points Jasper Morris
Fine mid purple, the nose is a touch riper but again displays this mastery of balance, more than in 2009. Sweet lovely raspberry and strawberry with floral notes.