Product Information:
The 2017 Chambertin from Domaine Rousseau is nothing short of magical. After a frosty 2016, the pent up energy in the vines seemed to have channelled into great depth and concentration in the 2017, thanks to the Rousseau family reining in the yields earlier in the season. The perfumed nose soars from the glass in a complex fruits, spice and new oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and with stunning soil signature. There's a very long, complex and utterly refined finish. The wine seems reserved on the palate right now, yet it's utterly seductive aromatically in its youthful grandeur. This is an excellent wine in the making.
Director and heir to the domaine, Cyrielle Rousseau, remarks on the stylistic differences of the Grand Cru sites, "the wines from Gevrey are generally fruitier and spicier than those from Morey Stain-Denis which are quite mineral, tannic and monolithic in comparison." This particular wine Chambertin is strong and firm, it already shows complexity and savoury nuance from the onset, it's beautifully balanced and will pay off with mid to longer-term cellaring.
Regarding winemaking, simplicity is key. For all wines around 90% of the grapes are destemmed. All the vine fruit is placed in open stainless steel tanks, where it is fermented for 18 to 20 days. During fermentation between 31-34 degrees, the juice is gently and continuously pumped over with regular treading to release colour and tannins. After fermentation, the wines are delicately pressed in a pneumatic press and are allowed to settle for 24 hours. Finally, the winemaker transfers the wine to oak barrels. Here, malolactic fermentation takes place naturally. The wine is aged for 18 months in before bottling. Every Armand Rousseau wine is released two years after bottling.
Maker:
Domaine Armand Rousseau ranks with Romanée-Conti, Leflaive, Jacques Prieur, and a small handful of names that are the stuff of Burgundy legend. These domaines produce impeccable quality wines from vintage to vintage, and consistently place Burgundy at the top of the wine world.
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 has 8 hectares of Grand Crus, including in Chambertin and in Clos de Bèze. Rousseau also owns acreage in the famed Premier Cru Clos St. Jacques, and the monopole, Grand Cru Clos des Ruchottes.
Domaine Armand Rousseau is one of Burgundy’s greatest producers. Their wines inspire awe in the fine wine world, with each vintage highly sought after. The domaine was founded at the turn of the last century by its namesake Armand Rousseau, courtesy of a small inheritance of vineyards in Gevrey Chambertin followed by additional vineyards added through marriage. Today, the domaine produces some of the world's most prized wines. Their substantial holdings of Chambertin have accumulated through purchases which span nearly 90 years.
The estate boasts a rich history, initiated by the pioneering efforts of Armand Rousseau in the 1930s. Today, his grandson Eric and great-granddaughter Cyrielle are at the helm. The wines produced by this domaine are pale, finely structured and possess great elegance and stamina. The key to the Rousseau style is simple - old vines and sensible yields, with the wines gaining weight and complexity as they age. These wines are highly coveted by collectors and investors due to their limited annual production of just 65,000 bottles.
Vineyard:
Most of the domaine's prestigious holdings is 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.
The Armand Rousseau vineyard plots are located on the eastern and south-eastern slopes of Cote de Nuits, giving the vine plantings ideal sun exposure. The vineyards are planted with old vines that enjoy clay-limestone soils - attributing Armand Rousseau wine's added complexity and concentration. Eric Rousseau practices traditional viticultural techniques combined with modern methodologies to bring out the best expression of his Pinot Noir. This includes Green harvesting helps to reduce yields (30-40 hL per hectare) and produce concentrated fruits. Leaf stripping helps the grape vines get enough sun exposure for ripening. Plowing of the vineyards helps aerate to the soil. Avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers further maintains soil health.
Nose - Morello Cherries, Earth, Sauvage Characters
A perfect balance of wood and wonderfully fresh, airy aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, earth, and a hint of the sauvage.
Palate - Charged, Mineral Inflected, Sumptuous
The palate is perfectly balanced with a killer line of acidity: crystalline red fruit, filigree tannins and more freshness than it knows what to do with.
Finish - Succulent, Graceful, Broad Drinking Window
Its velvety attack segues into an ample core of succulent fruit, concluding with a long and resonant finish.
The 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru is just a glorious success. Vivid red fruit, Morello cherries, wild strawberry and pressed violets on the nose, the aromatics here feel so animated and exquisitely defined. The palate is perfectly balanced with a killer line of acidity: crystalline red fruit, filigree tannins and more freshness than it knows what to do with. There is a sense of "channeled intensity" in this Chambertin and whilst there is no question that it is a 20- to 30-years wine, I felt no guilt in polishing this off in its youth. Tasted at Maison de Colombier in Beaune. - Neal Martin, Vinous, 98 Points
Revisited from bottle, the 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru is showing beautifully, soaring from the glass with expressive aromas of sweet red berry fruit, smoked meats, coniferous forest floor, mandarin orange and peonies, framed by a deft application of cedary, spicy new oak. Full-bodied, sumptuous and enveloping, its velvety attack segues into an ample core of succulent fruit, concluding with a long and resonant finish. This is likely to be both deceptively approachable young and notably long-lived, offering a broad drinking window. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 96 Points
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2017
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
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