Domaine Armand Rousseau

Why we follow Domaine Armand Rousseau

The estate

Armand Rousseau began as a broker and, on the advice of Raymond Baudouin of the Revue des Vins de France, started bottling his own wine in the 1930s. Almost nobody in Burgundy was doing that then. It is the decision on which the modern domaine rests. Armand died in a car accident in 1959. His son Charles took over and built the international reputation over four decades. Eric Rousseau joined in the early 1980s and brought green harvesting and serious soil work. His daughter Cyrielle, who trained in geology as well as viticulture, joined in 2014 and now leads the winemaking. Asked what she has changed, her answer is essentially that they do what they have always done.

The vineyards

Just over fifteen hectares, of which more than half is grand cru. Chambertin runs to around 2.2 hectares and Chambertin Clos de Bèze to 1.42, making Rousseau the third-largest owner of that 15.4 hectare cru. Charmes, Mazis and Ruchottes follow, including the walled Clos des Ruchottes monopole, along with a parcel of Clos de la Roche. The premier cru that collectors chase is Clos St-Jacques. Rousseau farms roughly 2.2 hectares of it, the largest share, on the lighter limestone soils of the upper slope.

In the glass

High-density planting, rigorous de-budding and mostly destemmed fruit, with new oak scaled carefully to the site: near-total for Chambertin and Clos de Bèze, considerably less further down. Nothing about the winemaking announces itself. The wines are structured, muscular and slow, and they are among the longest-lived reds in Burgundy. Clos St-Jacques is the wine to know. It is a premier cru that trades, and drinks, like a grand cru.

With Lamont’s

Offered through the Private Cellar Selection, generally following the April release. Register your interest and we will contact you when the next allocation is confirmed.