Ric arrives at Domaine Armand Rousseau

To all wine lovers, Domaine Armand Rousseau truly needs no introduction. Producing wines of power, elegance and great finesse that charm and captivate the senses immeasurably, demand for these reds far outstrips supply with prices to match. The domaine first began operations at the turn of the 20th century and has expanded over the decades through further acquisitions with holdings now totalling about 14 hectares, centered predominantly around Gevrey Chambertin. The domaine is still located at the original site where Armand first started, and it was at this same address where we were warmly welcomed by Eric Rousseau, grandson of Armand, on the morning of 23 October 2018. Genial and unassuming, Eric nowadays prefers to hand most of the running of the estate to his daughter Cyrielle Rousseau who took us down to its cellars where the 2017 and the freshly harvested 2018 are sitting in barrel. If my impression of the 2017s that we tasted is any indication, wine lovers can be assured the great style and heritage of this famous domaine still continues unchanged in superb hands. The 2017s of Domaine Armand Rousseau are already outstanding even straight from barrel. Truly, every wine speaks of its terroir in uncomplicated terms, capturing beautifully the very essence of Burgundy. I must really thank Cyrielle and Eric for taking time to entertain our intrusion into their busy lives, and for continuing the family tradition so well so that we may enjoy the results of their efforts.

Eric Rousseau

Cyrielle Rousseau

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin Clos du Chateau. Charming gentle bouquet. Rounded with lovely acidity and presence amidst saline minerals.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin. Aromatic red fruits, exuding delicious fragrance with a hint of gunsmoke. Fullish presence. Lovely concentration amidst understated acidity. Very correct in its Burgundian character.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Lavaux St Jacques 1er. Clear gentle purple, exuding an arresting rosy fragrance. Quite full. Superb presence and concentration of luscious red fruits underscored by dark currants with fine detail, displaying great balance between fruit and minerals, finishing with highly sophisticated tannins. Outstanding.

2017 Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers 1er. A trace of woody element is evident amongst the expanse of dark fruits. Medium-bodied and fleshy, rather gentle in depth and layering with good concentration of fruit on a bed of mild earthy tones. Very fine.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru. Reticent but most alluring on the palate where notes of raspberries and mulberries dominate, carrying good weight and verve with very finely-grained exciting tannins though understated in structure.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru. Glorious color, exuding abundant ripe red fruits and dark currants with a hint of chocolate. Fullish in tone, structured with svelte tannins, displaying superb layering, balance and great acidity, finishing with great persistence.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. Gentle fragrance of ripe raspberries and dark currants on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is dominated by saline minerals supported by red fruits. Highly supple and seamless.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru. Understated red fruits and dark currants lead to a supremely elegant palate that displayed great coherence of immense fruit, acidity and minerality. Superbly balanced. Utterly seamless with understated power, finishing with superb linearity. Glorious.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos St Jacques 1er. Absolutely beautiful on the nose, exuding a beguiling sense of dense red fruits and deep currants with early complexity that was most captivating, matched by a beautifully layered palate. Rounded, fleshy and utterly seamless, displaying rich elegance and purity. A complete wine. Outstanding.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru. This is a wine of supreme elegance in every dimension, glowing with an arresting bouquet of ripe rose petals and wonderfully ripe and delicious complex red fruits that imparted amazing brilliance on the full palate. Open with sublime acidity and intensity. Utterly seamless and whole, saturating the palate in lush sensuous mouthfeel, finishing with great power amidst velvety tones that lingered with great persistence. Absolutely wonderful. I cannot imagine it being any better.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin-Clos des Beze Grand Cru. This wine opens with the lovely fragrance of bright red fruits that conferred superb concentration and fullness on the juicy palate, open with very fine intensity and acidity, yet understated in structure. Like all the very best top cru, this wine doesn’t call attention to itself. Excellent.

Cyrielle Rousseau