Armand Rousseau: Clos St-Jacques 2017, Clos de la Roche 2016/2019, Lavaux 2019, Cazetiers 2017, Ruchottes 2019

Domaine Wines, Singapore, held a promotion where the wines of Domaine Armand Rousseau would be offered at Jade Palace restaurant for dine-in only at minimal mark-up to discourage speculative pricing. Needless to say, the entire consignment of seventy-two bottles was snapped up, including Chambertin Grand Cru (which is still beyond our reach). Many thanks, Dr Chan, for your kind generosity.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers 1er, tasted 17 Nov 2023. Classic pinot tint. More forward and immediate in red fruits and darkish characters compared with the Clos Saint-Jacques, structured with supple tannins and refined acidity that impart tensile presence and fleeting verve, tinged with a bit of sweetness.

2019 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er, courtesy of CHS, 20 Nov 2023. Deep ruby red. Forward nose of dense red fruits amid a sense of warm gravel matched by an exuberant palate of ample red fruits that impart velvety fullness with a tinge of brilliant graphite, dressed in understated tannins. Exudes obvious breed and pedigree. Excellent.

2017 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er, tasted 17 Nov 2023. Classic pinot tint, proffering a lovely bouquet of evolving red fruits, cherries and rose petals. Rather demure at first, developing an increasing presence of baked apples and dark plums as the medium-full palate began fleshing out with refined svelte intensity supported by a mild minerally austerity amid splashes of red capsicum. Highly integral in its layered fruit, acidity and tannins, exuding real breed and sophistication though its finish is somewhat modest. Another bottle from a different batch, courtesy of CHS, tasted on 20 Nov 2023 was equally mellow and soft, displaying feminine traits with subtle verve within a frame of pliant supple tannins, seamlessly integrated with open intensity though its finish is similarly restrained.

2019 Domaine Armand Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes Grand Cru, courtesy of CHS, 20 Nov 2023. This monopole boasts a wonderful lift of red fruits and haw amid overtones of warm gravel, just a little more forward in fruit that imparted excellent verve and fleeting intensity. Superbly balanced within a frame of sweet svelte tannins, displaying impeccable breed and sophistication.

2019 Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, courtesy of CHS, 20 Nov 2023. Deep purple. There is a distinct note of enamel here within the ample swathe of glorious ripe fruit, again a little more forwardly balanced though the balance and immaculate cohesion are evident, adding immeasurably to the superb linearity underpinning its entire length.

2016 Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, courtesy of Alvin, 17 Nov 2023. Beautiful pinot tint, exuding a superb lift of glorious red fruits amid overtones of warm gravel. Very generously endowed but never imposing, for such was its immaculate proportions, structured with pliant supple tannins that proffer superb detail.