The 2010 Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetiers from Armand Rousseau is a beatifully focused wine. Slightly closed but after a quick decanting the bouquet is offering fine red berry fruit … with a wonderful sweet core of crystal clear pinot fruit – notes of cherries raspberries and pomegranate. On the palate quite tight and focused with a lovely core of pure transparent fruit. The mineralic structure is powerful and typical for this vineyard. Enjoyable now but teally needs at least a decade of cellaring before the full potential is unleached.… Read the full article →
Domaine Armand Rousseau
The Chambertin Grand Cru 2011 from Rousseau is a full level up in quality from the Clos de Beze. In the bouquet a refined expression of pinot fruit, terroir and oak – notes of strawberries, forest berries, pomegarnate. The oak is already quite well integrated in the nose and supporting the complex impression of fruit and minerality. On the palate very intense and powerful pinot fruit, with a strong backbone from the great Chambertin terroir. The fruit is showing lovely purity and finesse, with almost lush and silky tannins.… Read the full article →
The Chambertin Clos de Beze 2011 is the most backward wine of the Rousseau lineup – but no doubt well worth waiting for. In the bouquet toasted oak, fine minerality combined with a lovely dark jelly fruit with elements of strawberries, dark cherries, dark forest berries and liquorice. On the palate quite a step up in midpalate concenation – lovely fruityness with a outstanding intensity. Very intense and long finish. Powerful and yet refined – a wine for long term drinking.… Read the full article →
The Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques 2011 from Rousseau is slightly more backward and aloof than the Ruchotte. In the bouquet red and darker forrest berries, currently with a quite strong impression of the new oak. On the palate quite a step up in concentration from the Ruchotte Chambertin, beautifully balanced and structured with a very fine minerality. A very fine wine, that needs some time to unfold the complexity.
(Drink from 2022) – Very Fine (93 – 94p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
The Clos de la Roche is the odd one out in the Rousseau lineup – a beautiful wine – but quite different from the Gevrey wines. In the bouquet red and darker fruit notes – dark cherries and forest berries with hints of vanilla. On the palate deep and pure fruit, more roundly structured and finely balanced with a quite powerful acidity and minerality. A beautiful Clos de la Roche in the making.
(Drink from 2020) – Fine+ (92 – 93p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
The Ruchotte Chambertin 2011 from Rousseau is a true beauty with a fantastic charm and energy. In the bouquet lovely sophisticated red fruits – strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries and pomegranate jelly. The fruit is beautifully supported by a lovely minerality and a playful acidity. The palate very harmonious, with a lovely fruit, good minerality and a very fine acidity. It’s refined, complex and with a lot of energy – what a beautiful wine.
(Drink from 2022) – Very Fine+ (93 – 94p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
The Mazis-Chambertin 2011 Mazis-Chambertin is in my view a step up from the Chames Chambertin. In the nose lovely red and dark forest berries, a slightly dusty minerality and some hints of pomegranate. On the palate more deep fruit on the midpalate – very fine concentration and length. A lovely refined fruit driven wine, with a beautiful terroir expression.
(Drink from 2020) – Fine+ (92 – 93p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
The Charmes Chambertin 2011 from Rousseau is a step up in concentration and focus, but somewhat more aloof than the Laveaux. In the bouquet more spicy and mineral notes with elements of dark cherries, raspberries, violets and peppar. On the palate good concentration, sharper and more focused with more tannins in the finish. A fine wine – but not showing all the qualities at the moment.
(Drink from 2020) – Fine+ (91 – 93p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
The Laveaux-Saint-Jacques 2011 from Rousseau is quite a big step up from the village Gevrey. In the bouquet lovely red fruit notes, with jellied elements of forrest strawberries, raspberries and cherries. Very charming nose with the beautiful sweet fruits and the crisp minerality. On the palate finely balanced with a core of cool seductive pinot fruit, good vibrant acidity and minerality. A beautilful wine with a lovely purity and good energy.
(Drink from 2019) – Fine (89 – 92p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
The Gevrey Chambertin 2011 from Rousseau is a pure and refined village wine, with all the positive caracteristics of the 2011 vintage. In the nose fresh pinot aromas – raspberries and dark cherries with a lovely earthy minerality. On the palate good energy with quite intense pure and round pinot fruit. A finely balanced village wine with a lovely expression of the Gevrey terroir.
(Drink from 2017) – Very Good (87 – 89p) – Tasted from cask 26/10/2012
Domaine Armand Rousseau is one of the iconic producers in Burgundy, and have maintained this position for decades. Under the leadership of Eric Rousseau they have furthermore improved the quality of the entry level wines, and the whole lineup is now among the very best in the Cote de Nuits.
I have never visited Armand Rousseau before, and I was therefore very delighted when I received the news about a visit at Domaine Rousseau to taste the 2011 vintage.
It was with very high expectations I entered the gate of Domaine Rousseau, and was greeted by Charles Rousseau, from his office next to the entrance.… Read the full article →
The Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 2008 from Rousseau is an extremely elegant and refined wine. In the bouquet very delicate and complex red berry fruit – strawberries, red cherries and a fine minerality. On the palate quite tight but still very refined and charming – layers of ripe classic pinot fruit a good concentration and a long intense and gorgeous finish with the purest and refined pinot flavors. Very transparant with a lovely expression of the terroir. Need 10 – 15 years to mature and show the potential – but will keep even longer.… Read the full article →
The Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques 2002 from Rousseau is still quite youthfull. In the nose fine ripe red fruits – strawberries and razberries coulis style, a hint of gooseberries and cherries. The bouquet is quite open, but th fruit is quite tight. On the palate very focused and pure fruit, quite tight and linear with good minerality and length. A wonderfull wine – but still needs time to develop more complexity.
(Drink from 2020) – Very Fine – 94p
Tasted 18/03/2012
The Clos Saint-Jacques 1996 was ready to rock. The bouquet was open and extrovert. Fine red fruit, with strawberry and framboise as the most prominent aromas. Very fine minerality in the nose giving the wine a fresh and vibrant feel. On the palate also very fresh with a vibrant acidity – typically 1996. Medium body and a good length and minerality. Very fine effort from 1996, where a lot of wines seem to be quite austere. A note, while this is a very fine wine, it lack some body and length to rival the best wines.… Read the full article →
I use my own 100 point rating system here at Winehog.org. Compared with other rating systems used by Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Allen Meadows (BurgHound), I have more steps between 85 points and 100 points.
The change of the rating system is due to the need to separate the many really good and fine wines rated in the spread between 85 points and 93 points. I really like Clive Coates clear and simple terms … good, very good, fine and very fine, and has integrated these on my 100 points scale.… Read the full article →