Armand Rousseau - Clos de la Roche 2019

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It is a minerally, complex, and powerful wine, with an abundance of red berry fruit aromas with a hint of thyme and mint. In the mouth, the wine shows true elegance, with spicy, smooth tannins and a hint of tobacco. A long finish with a great consistency and a certain firmness rounds out this incredible wine.

Armand Rousseau Description

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 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.

In August 2012, following the purchase of Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin’s vineyards by its new Chinese owner, Louis Ng Chi-sing, chief operating officer at SJM Holdings in Macau, its management was entrusted to Eric Rousseau of Domaine Rousseau. The five-acre property, which includes the Chateau, is comprised of small plots of the grand cru and premier cru ‘Chambertin’ vineyards, while the balance is Gevrey-Chambertin AOC.

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.

Decanter: 95 Points

Produced from three parcels: two in the original Clos de la Roche vineyard and almost 1ha in Les Fremières. Aged in used casks like the producer's Charmes, this has a very different character, with dark, plummy fruit alongside an earthy note on the nose, and a texture that is less firm perhaps, but broader and more full-bodied. Very solid. (CC)

Vinous: 93-95 Points

The 2019 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is highly perfumed on the nose, presenting an irresistible mixture of red and subtle blue fruit, very harmonious and exquisitely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. A feminine and very elegant Clos de la Roche that may well be earlier-drinking than others but feels very poised, with a touch of spice on the finish. Excellent. (NM)

Inside Burgundy: 93-96 Points

Another fine medium intense purple. The nose speaks of a savoury elegance more than lush fruit. But quite discreet, with firm acidity behind, a little less complete through the middle. In these days of lush fruit, the Rousseau Clos de la Roche is quite a reticent wine and there will be many who will be looking to seek out this style of wine from among its richer counterparts.

Wine Advocate: 93-95 Points

The 2019 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru opens in the glass with rich aromas of berry fruit, loamy soil, peonies, dark chocolate and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and elegantly muscular, it's generous and enveloping, with velvety tannins and fine depth at the core. Bright and lively, it's another wine that marries maturity with freshness. (WK)