The Domaine Georges Roumier - A sanctuary of Burgundy
Domaine Georges Roumier is one of the most prestigious wine estates in Burgundy and epitomises the incomparable elegance and depth of Pinot Noir like no other. Founded in Chambolle-Musigny, one of the most renowned wine-growing regions of the Côte de Nuits, the estate has developed over generations into an icon of the Burgundian terroir. Here, wine is not simply produced - liquid works of art are created that reflect the essence of their vineyards in every nuance.
The origins of the domaine date back to the early 20th century, when Georges Roumier began making wine under his own name. However, it was only under his son Jean-Marie Roumier and later under Christophe Roumier, who is now considered one of Burgundy's most gifted winemakers, that the estate achieved worldwide fame. Christophe Roumier runs the estate with a rare combination of traditional respect for the terroir and modern precision. His wines are not powerful spectacles, but rather quiet but all the more impressive revelations of Burgundy.
Terroir as the top priority
What makes the wines of Domaine Georges Roumier so unique is their deep roots in the magnificent vineyards of the Côte de Nuits. The estate cultivates some of the best plots in Chambolle-Musigny, but also in Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis and Corton-Charlemagne. Each wine is a pure expression of its respective climate, soil conditions and microfauna.
The domaine is particularly famous for its Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses, a wine that comes from one of the most sought-after Premier Cru sites in the world. The "Amoureuses" ("The Lovers") is a parcel known for its exceptional finesse. The wine produced here is of breathtaking beauty - delicate yet intense, with a floating elegance and crystalline clarity of flavour.
Equally legendary is the Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, which is one of the Domaine's more powerful wines. In contrast to the delicate Amoureuses, the Bonnes-Mares has a deeper structure, darker fruit and a mineral rigour that will allow it to mature over decades.
The domaine's philosophy: minimalism with maximum effect
Christophe Roumier works according to the principle that the best winemaker is the one who interferes the least. His wines are not created through technical manipulation, but by carefully accompanying the natural processes. The grapes are harvested by hand and strictly selected, the mash is fermented gently and the wine is matured in French oak barrels, whereby the proportion of new barriques is deliberately kept low so as not to mask the purity of the terroir.
A decisive aspect of the Roumier philosophy is the long ageing period. The wines rest for up to 18 months in the barrel and are often not released for sale until years after the harvest. This patience pays off: A Roumier wine does not unfold with brute force, but with a slow but unstoppable intensity that casts a spell over the drinker.
The magic of Pinot Noir at Roumier
Pinot Noir is a grape variety that reveals everything - both its strengths and its weaknesses. At Roumier, it is brought to perfection. The wines possess a rare balance between fruit, acidity and tannins, between freshness and maturity, between power and subtlety.
Young Roumier wines can initially appear reserved, almost shy, but with time they develop a panorama of aromas: cherries and strawberries, violets and roses, underlaid with a fine spiciness of pepper, liquorice and a hint of smoke. With age, they develop additional complexity - truffles, leather and sous-bois (woody forest floor notes) join in, but without overshadowing the original fruit.
In addition to the red Grands Crus, the Domaine also produces an outstanding white Burgundy: the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru. This Chardonnay impresses with its mineral precision, its lively acidity and its long, almost endless finish.
The rarity and the cult community
The wines of Domaine Georges Roumier are not only coveted for their quality, but also for their extremely limited availability. The plots are small, the production quantities tiny and a bottle of Musigny Grand Cru (one of the rarest and most expensive appellations in the world) from Roumier is a treasure that few ever get to see.
This has created a veritable cult community around the domaine, with collectors and wine connoisseurs all over the world chasing after these bottles and auctions regularly achieving record prices. But despite this enormous success, Christophe Roumier remains modest and concentrates tirelessly on getting the best out of his vineyards every year.
A wine for the ages
Drinking a Roumier wine is not an everyday occurrence, but an event. It is like taking a look into the soul of Burgundy - a Burgundy that is not characterised by marketing or fashions, but by centuries of passion and dedication.
Domaine Georges Roumier epitomises what wine is at its core: the ability to evoke emotions, create memories and enchant moments. Anyone who has ever tasted an old Roumier will understand why this name is mentioned in the same breath as the world's greatest wine estates. These are wines that must not be drunk, but experienced - wines for eternity.
Domaine G. Roumier Musigny 2005: An ode to elegance
Domaine G. Roumier Musigny 2005 is undoubtedly an outstanding example of the perfection that can be found in the wines of Burgundy. The Château and its surrounding vineyards, which form the heart of the famous Musigny appellation, are not only a place of wine production, but also a symbol of tradition and craftsmanship.
The "Grand Cru" Le Musigny is one of the most famous sites in Burgundy, renowned for its exceptional Pinot Noir wines. The vineyards of Domaine G. Roumier's vineyards lie on chalky soils that are ideally suited to the cultivation of this sensitive grape. The microclimate, characterised by warm days and cool nights, allows the grapes to develop their full aroma and thus produce wines of incomparable depth and complexity.
The 2005 vintage was also a year of remarkable quality - the weather conditions were ideal and led to perfect ripeness of the grapes. These factors combined to produce a wine that perfectly embodies the essence of Musigny.
Flavour components and aromas
Domaine G. Roumier Musigny 2005 is a deep ruby red colour in the glass and immediately reveals its potential. Intense aromas of red fruits such as cherries, raspberries and strawberries unfold on the nose. These fruity notes are accompanied by subtle spicy accents reminiscent of cinnamon and cloves. Floral elements, such as violets, also blend harmoniously into the aroma and give the wine a balanced freshness.
On the palate, the Musigny 2005 is powerful and elegant at the same time. The tannins are silky and well integrated, making the wine accessible without losing its structural characteristics. The fruity flavours continue and are complemented by earthy and mineral undertones typical of the Burgundy terroir. The finish is long-lasting and once again shows the diversity of flavours that are combined in this wine.
To enjoy the wine in its full splendour, it is advisable to decant it a few hours before serving. This allows the flavours to fully develop and showcase the elegant structure of the wine.
Domaine G. Roumier Musigny 2005 is much more than just a wine; it is an experience that reflects the beauty and complexity of Burgundy. With its deep character and elegant structure, it is a prime example of what the region has to offer. Every sip tells a story of passion, tradition and the relentless pursuit of perfection. A truly remarkable wine that will delight wine lovers and connoisseurs alike and leave a lasting memory.
And here are some tasting notes from Domaine Roumier:
Musigny, Domaine Georges Roumier 2015
Along with a small handful of other possibilities, the Roumier Musigny is a persuasive wine-of-the-vintage candidate, which is pretty remarkable given how good the 2015 vintage is. A kaleidoscopically broad and complex nose features a brilliant array that consists of lavender, violet and rose petal nuanced with hoisin, spiced tea and black cherry liqueur. The naturally sweet, pure and ultra-refined broad-shouldered flavours possess a highly seductive mid-palate that then tightens up very quickly on the hugely long finish that is punctuated by an almost aggressive minerality. Simply put, this indisputably built-to-age effort is sublime.
Score: 96/99 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (65), January 2017
Morey Saint Denis Clos de la Bussière, Domaine Georges Roumier 2016
A deft application of wood sets off pretty, pure, elegant and airy aromas of both red and dark pinot fruit that are cut with varying degrees of earth, floral and spice wisps plus an interesting hint of orange peel. The rich, sleek and beautifully delineated middle weight flavours also flash good minerality, all wrapped in a firm and serious but not especially austere finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth.
Score: 91 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (73), January 2019
Bonnes Mares, Domaine Georges Roumier 2013
Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru from Christophe Roumier has a ripe redcurrant, cherry and vanilla-tinged bouquet, high-toned but not volatile, generous if missing some mineralité. The palate is defined by its very smooth texture: seamless and so lithe in the mouth. There is impressive purity here and while you could describe this as "showy" (not an adjective that I often apply to Christophe's wines), that is meant in a positive way. There is the substance to suggest this will age with style -- a sophisticated and thoroughly enjoyable Bonnes-Mares to savour. Tasted September 2016.
Score: 93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, November 2016
Chambolle Les Cras, Domaine Georges Roumier 2005
The 2005 Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras smells of ripe blackberry, raspberry, forest floor and chalk dust. A polished, creamy, yet palpably chalky and brightly fresh-fruited palate offers a sumptuous saturation of black and red fruits with inner-mouth aromatic accents of cherry pit, pistachio, flowers and citrus zest. This shows wonderful primary fruit intensity and energy, exciting length, and the promise of continued poise and polish for at least another 10-12 years. One senses that Christophe Roumier considers 2005 a high point of his career, and my visit with him was among the high points of my recent trip. He describes this as "a classic vintage lending itself to very calm, classic vinification," which given the opportunities afforded by perfectly healthy, firm, dry, ripe fruit involved triage almost solely to remove ladybugs, and included around 25% whole clusters in the fermenters at the Premier Cru level and 50% at that of Grand Cru.
Score: 93/94 David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007
1. key historical data
Foundation: 1924 by Georges Roumier
Location: Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy (France)
Current winemaker: Christophe Roumier (since 1981, 3rd generation)
Vineyard area: 11.8 hectares (of which 90% Grand Cru & Premier Cru)
Production: ~35,000 bottles/year (extremely limited)
2nd Grand Cru & Premier Cru sites
| Site | Classification | Size (ha) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnes-Mares | Grand Cru | 1,39 | Powerful, mineral, long-lasting |
| Musigny | Grand Cru | 0.10 (mini-plot!) | Elegant, sensual, floral |
| Clos de la Bussière | Premier Cru (monopole) | 1,76 | Fruity, accessible |
| Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Les Amoureuses" | Premier Cru | 0,40 | Silky, complex |
| Ruchottes-Chambertin | Grand Cru | 0,28 | Spicy, structured |
3. production philosophy
✅ Tradition & precision:
Hand-picked in several passes
Partial whole-cluster fermentation (30-50% stems for structure)
Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts
✅ Ageing in wood:
New oak barrels: 30-50% (depending on location)
Long maturation: 18-24 months
✅ Biodiversity:
No use of herbicides
Greening of the vine rows
4. flagship wines & price segments
| Vineyard | Vintage | Parker points | Price (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru | 2020 | 97-99 | 1.200-2.500 |
| Musigny Grand Cru | 2020 | 98-100 | 5.000-10.000+ |
| Les Amoureuses 1er Cru | 2020 | 96-98 | 800-1.500 |
| Clos de la Bussière 1er Cru | 2020 | 93-95 | 300-500 |
| Chambolle-Musigny Village | 2020 | 90-92 | 150-250 |
5. legendary vintages
1990 Bonnes-Mares (100 points)
2005 Musigny (wine of the century, ultra-rarity)
2015 Clos de la Bussière (perfect balance and finesse)
6. sensory profile (Musigny Grand Cru)
Colour: Deep ruby red
Nose: Violet, red berries, truffle, delicate spices
Palate: Silky tannins, floating texture, endless length
Ageing potential: 30-50 years
7. economic importance
Waiting list: 10+ years for Grand Crus
Auction record: Musigny 1949 (€25,000+)
Export quota: 70% (top markets: USA, Japan, Switzerland)
8th Christophe Roumier - The winemaker
Philosophy: "Wine should let the terroir speak, not the winemaker."
Influence: Considered one of the best Pinot Noir winemakers in the world
Quote: "Great wine is made in the vineyard, not in the cellar."
9. current developments (2024)
🔹 Experiments with reduced sulphur
🔹 Precision site analysis with soil scans
🔹 New Musigny plot (minimal expansion)
Domaine Roumier stands for the essence of Chambolle-Musigny - wines of transparent elegance and timeless depth. The Musigny and Bonnes-Mares cuvées are among the most sought-after Burgundy wines in the world.