Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils

Domaine Armand Rousseau is a highly regarded and critically lauded wine producer based in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, in the northern Côte de Nuits. Arguably iconic in status, Armand Rousseau is one of Burgundy's oldest and most revered family-run domaines. It holds many grand cru plots in Gevrey-Chambertin as well as part of the much sought-after premier cru vineyard Clos Saint-Jacques.

This is one of Burgundy’s greatest domaines – in terms of history, vineyard holdings and quality of wine. The original Armand Rousseau was at the forefront of the first wave of domaine bottling in the 1930s. He was succeeded by his son Charles in 1959, shortly after they had bought a significant slice of the Clos St Jacques vineyard. Today Eric, grandson of Armand, is in charge of the vines and cellar, with the help of his daughter Cyrielle..

The domaine has just over 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) in Le Chambertin with 1.4 hectares (3.4 acres) in the Clos-de-Bèze section. As well as half a hectare in Mazis-Chambertin, one hectare/2.5 acres in Ruchottes (Clos des Ruchottes) and and nearly 1.4 hectares in Charmes-Chambertin, Rousseau also produces a Clos de la Roche from its 1.5 hectare (3.7 acre) holding in the acclaimed Morey-Saint-Denis appellation just south of Gevrey.

Premier cru plots in the portfolio include 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres) in the Clos Saint-Jacques, 0.6 hectares (1.5) in Les Cazetiers and just under half a hectare (1.3 acres) in Lavaut Saint-Jacques. Armand Rousseau also farms 2.2 hectares of village-level Gevrey-Chambertin.

The farming here is traditional, with green harvesting where necessary to control yields (which range between 30 and 40hl/ha). The vineyards are ploughed and the use of sprays minimal. In the winery, 90% of the fruit is de-stemmed – the 10% whole-bunch adding tannin and structure to the wines. Fermentation is in open-topped stainless steel vats, with regular pumping over and punch-downs, but temperatures kept below 31°C. The fruit is then pressed gently, settles and transferred to barrel where the wines gently mature.

Typically Burgundian, these wines are built to last. Old vines and careful winemaking to allow for the expression of the terroir makes for elegant, pure wines with red and black fruit aromas. Oak is used sparingly.