Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 2017

Domaine Armand Rousseau is a highly esteemed producer of top-quality red Burgundy, located in Gevrey-Chambertin with just over 15 hectares of land, over half of which is Grand Cru vineyards. The estate has a rich history, with the original Armand Rousseau pioneering Domaine bottling in the 1930s and his grandson Eric now at the helm. The wines produced by this domaine are pale, finely structured and possess great elegance and stamina. The key to the Rousseau style is simple old vines and sensible yields, with the wines gaining weight and complexity as they age. The estate's ownership of 5.5 acres of the prestigious Premier Cru vineyard, Clos des Ruchottes, is a testament to the quality of their wines, which are highly coveted by collectors and investors due to their limited annual production of just 65,000 bottles.

Burgundy is a highly respected wine region in east-central France, known for producing top-quality red and white wines. The region is home to famous producers such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Armand Rousseau, and Domaine Leroy. Burgundy's wines are some of the most prestigious in the world, with Grand Cru-designated vineyards being an essential marker for quality. The Côte d'Or is home to many of these Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines, including the Côte de Nuits and Gevrey-Chambertin. These wines are known for being finessed, earthy and age-worthy, making them highly desirable among fine wine investors and collectors.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru 2017 has a perfect balance of wood and wonderfully fresh, airy aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, earth, and a hint of the sauvage. The big-bodied flavours are seductively textured yet well-delineated, with an abundance of energy on the intensely mineral-inflected, sappy and impeccably well-balanced finish. The wine reflects a touch of youthful austerity, but the sheer level of complexity is stunning. This Chambertin is a knockout and should age gracefully for a very, very long time.

The 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru is just a glorious success. Vivid red fruit, Morello cherries, wild strawberry and pressed violets on the nose, the aromatics here feel so animated and exquisitely defined. The palate is perfectly balanced with a killer line of acidity: crystalline red fruit, filigree tannins and more freshness than it knows what to do with. There is a sense of "channeled intensity" in this Chambertin and whilst there is no question that it is a 20- to 30-years wine, I felt no guilt in polishing this off in its youth. Tasted at Maison de Colombier in Beaune. - Neal Martin, Vinous, 98 Points

Revisited from bottle, the 2017 Chambertin Grand Cru is showing beautifully, soaring from the glass with expressive aromas of sweet red berry fruit, smoked meats, coniferous forest floor, mandarin orange and peonies, framed by a deft application of cedary, spicy new oak. Full-bodied, sumptuous and enveloping, its velvety attack segues into an ample core of succulent fruit, concluding with a long and resonant finish. This is likely to be both deceptively approachable young and notably long-lived, offering a broad drinking window. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 96 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2017
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%