Domaine Armand Rousseau

Domaine Armand Rousseau - a masterpiece of Burgundy

Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 1990: A masterpiece of the art of winemaking

The Chambertin Grand Cru is without doubt one of the most prestigious wines to come from this estate. It is made from grapes from the vineyard of the same name, which is considered one of the best sites in Bourgogne. The vineyards are characterised by their chalky soils and continental climate, resulting in wines of deep complexity and remarkable longevity.

1990 - A year for the history books

The 1990 vintage is often regarded as one of the best vintages of the last century. The weather conditions in Burgundy were almost ideal, with a warm, dry summer and excellent ripening of the grapes. These climatic conditions allowed the winegrowers to achieve optimal ripeness, which is crucial for the development of complex flavours and a balanced acid structure.

The grapes used for the 1990 Chambertin Grand Cru benefited from these conditions. The Pinot Noir grapes used to make this wine were characterised by an exceptional concentration of aromas and a remarkable structure. The harvest was small, which further enhanced the quality of the wines, and the results are still highly prized by wine lovers today.

The Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 1990 is a very special experience for any wine connoisseur. Its deep ruby red colour with a purple reflection already promises a grandiose pleasure. The nose reveals an intoxicating bouquet of ripe cherries, blackberries and a fine spice of cinnamon and cloves, underpinned by earthy notes and a hint of wild flowers.

On the palate, the wine is extremely harmonious with a perfect balance between rich fruit and elegant freshness. The tannins are silky and well integrated, giving the wine a remarkable elegance. The dark fruit flavours are accompanied by a delicate ageing aroma, with nuances of leather and tobacco. The finish is long and complex, with a persistent aftertaste that brings out the characteristic qualities of the Chambertin.

An outstanding feature of the Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 1990 is its remarkable longevity. Like many wines of great quality from Bourgogne, this wine has the potential to age for decades. Experts recommend leaving it in the bottle for a few more years to fully develop its flavours and complexity. Ideally, it should be stored in a cool, dark cellar at a constant temperature.

The Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 1990 is more than just a wine; it is a testament to the winemaker's skill and the exceptional conditions of the vintage. It epitomises the essence of Burgundy, combining terroir, tradition and craftsmanship in a single glass. For wine lovers and collectors, this wine is an indispensable highlight and a fascinating part of any high-quality wine collection.

The fascination for the Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 1990 remains unbroken, and its drinking maturity continues to make the hearts of wine lovers beat faster. Whether for festive occasions or socialising, this wine is always a revelation and testifies to the timeless appeal of Bourgogne.

Here are some tasting notes of the wines of Armand Rousseau:

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin 2019

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (85), January 2022 98 points

This too evidences subtle wood influence on the ripe yet cool nose that combines notes of spice, earth and floral elements with those of dark berries and poached plum. There is excellent intensity to the full-bodied, concentrated and mineral-inflected flavours that coat the palate with sappy dry extract while delivering excellent depth and persistence on the beautifully balanced and imposingly powerful if decidedly compact finale. This strikingly pure effort is already Zen-like in its sense of harmony and should prove to be remarkably long-lived. Brilliant. Note: 2.55 ha; 100% new wood.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin 1990

Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, May 2019 99 points

The colour is less deep than the 1993 but retains a healthy youthful hue. I was surprised at first by the reticence of the nose, but it did not take long for the bouquet to develop. On the palate the wine has retained a magical tension but it is the incredible sensuality of the texture - remember the Rabelais quote of wine slipping down the throat like taffeta (admittedly he was not referring to Chambertin). At this point, a blind ringer was introduced which proved to be the 1990 Chambertin from Domaine Leroy. At first this new wine seemed in a different class, because of its greater intensity, but then reverting to the Rousseau 1990 demonstrated that its graceful harmony remains unmatched. Tasted: May 2019.

Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St-Jacques 1985

Vinous

Many years ago I bought two or three bottles of the 1985 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru for a price that now begs belief. All of them were poured for two people: my wife and I. This last bottle is sublime. That same old spellbinding nose that envelops the senses, quite lush in keeping with the vintages, beautifully defined with traces of hung game creeping in. There is great tannic structure here, again, just a little gaminess towards the finish, but so elegant and refined that you instantly fall for its charms. Tasted at home in Guildford Drinking Window: 2019 - 2028 Reviewer Name: Neal Martin Review Date: 1st May 2019

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze 1989

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com, October 2002

Substantial, very full and expressive nose of blackberries, pinot extract, game and earth that frame intense, complex, large-scaled flavours, excellent length and grand cru finesse. A very impressive Clos de Bèze that can be enjoyed now though will clearly be better in 3 to 5 years.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze 1999

Burghound Review Date: 07/2017

The '99 Bèze just continues to get better and better with every passing year. A flat out gorgeously complex nose is comprised by spice, earth, minerality and still fresh red and black Pinot fruit aromas. There is excellent richness to the intense and beautifully well-delineated medium-bodied flavours that are blessed with plenty of mouth coating dry extract that confers a seductive texture onto the strikingly persistent finish. Like the '99 Chambertin, while this could be drunk now I would strongly advise holding it for at least another 5 years and 10 would probably be better. Tasted many times and this only seems to go from strength to strength. In a word, exquisite.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze 1999

David childknecht, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007 96/98

The 2005 Chambertin Clos de Beze offers alluring aromas of licorice, mint, vanilla, plum paste, cherry preserves and rose petals, and seduces the palate with silky, incredibly refined texture and several octaves of fruit, herbal, floral and mineral notes, leading to a reverberative finish in which fruit pit and stony, chalky elements lend a sense of dark, weighty authority and an umami-like, meaty savour promotes uncontrollable salivation. No layering or mixing of metaphors can hope to do justice to the layering and concatenation of flavours on display. With Eric Rousseau taking over increasingly from his father Charles, bottling may end up being slightly earlier than in the past, but such routine features as triage exclusively in the vineyards (not the press house), the inclusion of whole clusters and stems, precocious malolactic fermentation (although in 2005 and 2006, at least, Rousseau says he didn't force this), reliance on older barrels, and an eventual light plaque filtration for all wines remain as before. Given the long-running success of these Pinots in subtly yet insistently conveying the distinct personalities of their sites and standing the test of time, some might well ask "why change the recipe?" while others will wonder whether the wines could be made even better. In any event, nature conspired to hand the new generation a vintage of historic dimensions.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin 1985

Antonio Galloni - 97 Points

The 1985 Chambertin Grand Cru is a vintage that I have encountered twice before, albeit not for many years. In the glass, it shows some degradation in the rim and is lighter in colour than more recent vintages. Ethereal on the nose with fabulous delineation, it offers vivid red fruit, Morello and cranberry tinged with damp moss and orange pith. The palate has stunning balance, perfect acidity, not powerful or structured yet beguiling in terms of its elegance and grace. Hints of white pepper and clove towards the finish that has a softened fleshiness that seems to fon out across the senses. Irresistible and profound. Tasted at the Rousseau Chambertin vertical at La Vienne.

Domaine Rousseau stands for the purest form of terroir - wines of crystalline clarity and timeless depth. The Chambertin and Clos de Bèze cuvées are among the most sought-after Burgundy wines in the world.