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.
90-92 Points Wine Advocate
Aromas of sweet berry fruit, wild plums, baking chocolate, spices and candied citrus rind introduce Rousseau’s 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Village, a medium-bodied, lively wine with a generous core of fruit, bright acids and powdery structuring tannins. Combining a certain sunny generosity with real vibrancy and precision, this appears to have the makings of Rousseau’s finest communal bottling since 2012 or 2010, so I’m looking forward to revisiting it in bottle in a few years. As I’ve written before, the communal Gevrey includes fruit from premiers crus Perrières and Etournelles Saint-Jacques.
88-91 Points Allen Meadows
A slightly more deeply pitched nose presents aromas of wild red and dark berries, underbrush, warm earth and a whiff of the sauvage. The delicious and attractively vibrant medium-bodied flavors possess a beguiling texture thanks to the relatively sophisticated tannins shaping the more complex and slightly longer finish. This forward effort should also also drink well after only a few years of cellaring. *Burghound Outstanding!*
90-92 Points Jasper Morris
Slightly denser purple here, and the same increased intensity on the palate. Redcurrant raspberry and ripe cherry. Balanced by acidity. Some intensity and riper than usual but undoubtedly fine.