Rousseau

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Domaine Armand Rousseau in Gevrey Chambertin produces stunning wines from some of the best sites in the Cote d'Or.  Practising low yields, short pruning and dedicated selection from Pinot Noir grapes grown on old vines, Rousseau makes concentrated and classic red Burgundy, which is rivalled by very few.  See the Wine Advocate review for the 1992 Clos de Beze below:

'The 2002 Chambertin Clos de Beze bursts with spicy red cherry aromas. This medium to full-bodied wine has an exceptionally spicy personality that is crammed with red licorice (Twizzlers), candied raspberries, Asian spices, and blackberries. Wonderfully focused and armed with substantial depth, this medium to full-bodied wine’s exceedingly long finish displays awesomely ripe tannin.' Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020 Pierre Rovani 2004

Vint Description Cl ? Cs Bt Cs Bt +
2007 Chambertin 75 IB   6 - 230
2007 Chambertin 75 IB   6 - 230
2007 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 DP 1   1650 -
2005

Chambertin Clos de Beze

75 IB   1 - 590
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 Chambertin Clos de Beze offers alluring aromas of licorice, mint, vanilla, plum paste, cherry preserves and rose petals, and seduces the palate with silky, incredibly refined texture and several octaves of fruit, herbal, floral and mineral notes, leading to a reverberative finish in which fruit pit and stony, chalky elements lend a sense of dark, weighty authority and an umami-like, meaty savor promotes uncontrollable salivation. No layering or mixing of metaphors can hope to do justice to the layering and concatenation of flavors on display. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didnÕt force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask Ùwhy change the recipe?Î while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Wine Advocate # 170 Apr 2007
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period:  -
2005

Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques

75 IB 1   2990 -
Tasting Notes:
With the 2005 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St.-Jacques (which by its position in tastings here the Rousseaus conspicuously rate as grand cru) we arrive at the first wine that is matured in new wood. Pure, sweet, fresh black cherry fruit, marrowy and enveloping carnal richness, mysteriously enticing florality, low-toned, chalky minerality and accents of black tea and star anise are featured in this remarkably seamless wine. Meat, minerals and mystery dominate a finish that is profoundly layered yet preserves sheer palate-cleansing refreshment and positively vibrates with vividly fresh fruit intensity. Rousseau owns around one third of this great site, meaning that there are over a thousand cases of this phenomenal wine to ransack the marketplace in search of, then sock away for at least a decade and preferably two. It is always the last-harvested site, says Eric Rousseau, and in 2005 his roughly twenty veteran pickers could certainly afford to wait and richly rewarded us for it. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didnÕt force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask Ùwhy change the recipe?Î while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Wine Advocate # 170 Apr 2007
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period:  -
2005

Charmes Chambertin

75 DP   1 - 115
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 Charmes-Chambertin (from vines averaging around thirty years of age, two thirds of them in Mazoyere-Chambertin) is decidedly lighter in color and palate weight than its premier cru predecessors. Sweet cherry with jam and caramel suggestions dominate a supple palate, with nuances of toasted almond and licorice. This is all about polish, sweet fruit, and laid-back elegance, but is frankly a bit disappointingly straightforward in consideration of its classification, of the quality standard set by most of its stable mates, and certainly given its price. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didnÕt force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask Ùwhy change the recipe?Î while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Wine Advocate # 170 Apr 2007
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period:  -
2005

Charmes Chambertin

75 IB   1 - 115
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 Charmes-Chambertin (from vines averaging around thirty years of age, two thirds of them in Mazoyere-Chambertin) is decidedly lighter in color and palate weight than its premier cru predecessors. Sweet cherry with jam and caramel suggestions dominate a supple palate, with nuances of toasted almond and licorice. This is all about polish, sweet fruit, and laid-back elegance, but is frankly a bit disappointingly straightforward in consideration of its classification, of the quality standard set by most of its stable mates, and certainly given its price. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didnÕt force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask Ùwhy change the recipe?Î while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Wine Advocate # 170 Apr 2007
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period:  -
2005

Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes

75 DP   3 - 185
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes, from vines averaging fifty years of age in a Rousseau monopole that makes up nearly one third of this entire appellation, offers ripe, fresh black cherry, sweet spices, black tea, high-toned herbal distillates, musky florality, cedar, game, smoked meat and wood smoke on the nose, and a palate of impressive density that revels in fresh fruit juiciness even as it reveals layers of meat and minerals and leaves you salivating and chewing the air long after it has (reluctantly) been spat. This fascinating wine deserves another showing in ten or a dozen years, but should certainly be worthy of more than two decades bottle maturation, indeed I am sure Charles Rousseau would recommend that you not even peek before then. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didnÕt force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask Ùwhy change the recipe?Î while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Wine Advocate # 170 Apr 2007
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period:  -
2005

Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes

75 DP   1 - 185
Tasting Notes:
The 2005 Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes, from vines averaging fifty years of age in a Rousseau monopole that makes up nearly one third of this entire appellation, offers ripe, fresh black cherry, sweet spices, black tea, high-toned herbal distillates, musky florality, cedar, game, smoked meat and wood smoke on the nose, and a palate of impressive density that revels in fresh fruit juiciness even as it reveals layers of meat and minerals and leaves you salivating and chewing the air long after it has (reluctantly) been spat. This fascinating wine deserves another showing in ten or a dozen years, but should certainly be worthy of more than two decades bottle maturation, indeed I am sure Charles Rousseau would recommend that you not even peek before then. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didnÕt force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask Ùwhy change the recipe?Î while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions. Wine Advocate # 170 Apr 2007
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period:  -
2005 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 DP   5 - 275
2005 Chambertin Clos de Beze, Jeroboam 300 IB   1 - 5850
2005 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques, Magnums 150 IB   1 - 995
2004 Chambertin 75 IB 1   2250 -
2004 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 IB   4 - 95
2004 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 DP   2 - 95
2003 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 IB 1   1800 -
2003 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 IB   4 - 150
2003 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 IB 1   1800 -
2002 Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes 75 IB 1   1850 -
2002

Chambertin Clos de Beze

75 IB 1   4750 -
Tasting Notes:
The 2002 Chambertin Clos de Beze bursts with spicy red cherry aromas. This medium to full-bodied wine has an exceptionally spicy personality that is crammed with red licorice (Twizzlers), candied raspberries, Asian spices, and blackberries. Wonderfully focused and armed with substantial depth, this medium to full-bodied wineÕs exceedingly long finish displays awesomely ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020. The Wine Advocate, #153, Jun-04.
Parker Points: 94-96
Drinking Period: 2008-2020
2002

Chambertin Clos de Beze

75 IB   1 - 375
Tasting Notes:
The 2002 Chambertin Clos de Beze bursts with spicy red cherry aromas. This medium to full-bodied wine has an exceptionally spicy personality that is crammed with red licorice (Twizzlers), candied raspberries, Asian spices, and blackberries. Wonderfully focused and armed with substantial depth, this medium to full-bodied wineÕs exceedingly long finish displays awesomely ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020. The Wine Advocate, #153, Jun-04.
Parker Points: 94-96
Drinking Period: 2008-2020
2001 Chambertin 75 IB 1   3150 -
2001 Charmes Chambertin 75 IB 1   995 -
1996 Chambertin Clos de Beze, Jeroboam 300 IB   1 - 4950
1996 Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 75 IB   1 - 225
1995

Chambertin Clos de Beze

75 IB   5 - 350
Tasting Notes:
Dark ruby-colored, the killer Chambertin Clos de Beze floored me with its nose of roses, violets, black cherries and Asian spices. Its sublimely elegant palate impression is intense, complex, chewy, austere, minerally, stony, full-bodied and long. It possesses considerable tannin behind the rich fruit so it should be at its best between 2006 and 2016. This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. The wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Pinot Noir, a fragile varietal, reacts poorly to fining, filtration, and careless bottling techniques, I recommend caution when considering buying a red burgundy based on cask samples. I called it as I tasted it, and hope the bottled wine reflects the quality of the samples I was provided. The Wine Advocate, #111, Jun-97.
Parker Points: 91-94
Drinking Period: 2006-2016
1995 Chambertin 75 DP   2 - 295
1993

Chambertin, Magnums

150 DP 1   11900 -
Tasting Notes:
Rousseau's Chambertin, which is usually a qualitative match for the Clos de Beze, exhibits an attractive nose of smoky oak and red and black fruits. The attack offers plenty of sweet fruit, but the tannin quickly grips the palate and the wine finishes more compactly and with less body and intensity than I would have suspected. Certainly this wine is very good, even excellent, but it will not dazzle Burgundy lovers. It will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and keep for 12+ years. Baritone-voiced Charles Rousseau's 1993s are successful for the vintage, and softer than I expected given the inclination for the 1993s to be hard and tannic. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700 The Wine Advocate, #100. The Wine Advocate, #100, Aug-95.
Parker Points: 88
Drinking Period: 1997-2007
1989 Chambertin 75 DP   1 - 495
1988 Chambertin 75 IB   2 - 425
1984 Chambertin Clos de Beze 75 IB   2 - 350
1971 Chambertin Clos de Beze, Magnum 150 DP   1 - 5750
1971 Charmes Chambertin 75 IB   2 - 745
1969 Chambertin Clos de Beze 75 DP   1 - 1750
1952 Chambertin 75 DP   2 - 3490