Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin 2016

A legendary estate in Gevrey-Chambertin producing Burgundy wines with ultimate purity, finesse and expression of terroir, Domaine Armand Rousseau is sought after by the most serious wine collectors in the world. There is not enough wine to fulfill all of the global demands, so we cherish every precious bottle of Rousseau wine that we receive at the Bottle Shop. Ranking with the most elite Burgundy producers such as Romanée-Conti and Comte Georges de Vogüé, Rousseau produces impeccable quality wines from vintage to vintage. Each of the domaine’s prestigious holdings are in Gevrey Chambertin, with the exception of Grand Cru Clos de la Roche in Morey-St. Denis. The domaine controls a remarkable 8 hectares of Grand Crus, including 6.25 acres in Chambertin and 3.45 in Clos de Bèze. Rousseau owns 5.5 acres in the famed Premier Cru Clos St. Jacques, which accounts for 40% of the total acreage, and 100% of the 2.5-acre monopole, Grand Cru Clos des Ruchottes. These elite holdings contribute to the domaine's allure.  

Eric Rousseau is adamant that yields should be severely limited to promote faithful expression of the individual vineyard. The wines age in barrel for 18 months before bottling. Rousseau releases its wines exactly two years after the vintage. Frederick Wildman Imports has represented Domaine Armand Rousseau exclusively in the U.S. since 1934. 

Vinification: Grapes are meticulously sorted as they arrive in the winery. Following a cool maceration lasting 5-7 days the must travels by gravity into barrel where it will stay for the entire vinification process lasting typically 18-24 months. Each Armand Rousseau wine is blended unfiltered. Domaine Armand Rousseau is the largest landowner of the Chambertin vineyard with a total of 5.3 acres. The 32 acres of Chambertin Grand Cru represent some of the finest and most storied Pinot Noir acreage on the planet and with all producers combined typically produce less than 60,000 bottles per vintage. Chambertin is the beating heart of the red Grand Crus of the Côte d’Or sitting high on the hillside and bordered by Latricières-Chambertin to the south and Clos-de-Bèze to the north. 

Chambertin is the Wine Of Kings. Burgundy writer Clive Coates refers to this Grand Cru as perhaps the finest red wine in the world. Always a tour de force, this wine has uncanny balance. It is very structured, dense, and powerful, it has firm, ripe tannins, yet it is not heavy. It has uncommonly long length on the palate. The U.S. market receives less than 50 cases of this rare wine.

Rousseau Chambertin is rigorous and firm, well-structured and very dense with a high degree of persistence in the mouth. Aromas of chocolate, licorice and red berries abound. Masculine, powerful and well built.