Domaine Armand Rousseau, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 1945

Domaine Armand Rousseau in Gevrey-Chambertin farms 15.33 ha of Pinot Noir, 8.51 ha of it grand cru, across Gevrey and Morey-Saint-Denis. The pillars are Chambertin (2.55 ha), dense and dark with black cherry, earth and iron; Chambertin-Clos de Bèze (1.42 ha), more floral and silky, with raspberry and violet; and premier cru Clos Saint-Jacques (2.21 ha), cherry and plum over mineral tension. Grands crus also include the Clos des Ruchottes monopole, fine and mineral, plus Mazis-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin and the muscular Clos de la Roche. Vines are Guyot-pruned with yields of 30–40 hl/ha; fermentation uses native yeasts and gentle extraction, with roughly half new French oak.

Appellation

Gevrey-Chambertin and Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy

Owner

Rousseau family (Eric and Cyrielle Rousseau)

Vineyards

15.33 ha: 8.51 ha grand cru, 3.77 ha premier cru, 3 ha village; Chambertin 2.55 ha, Clos de Bèze 1.42 ha, Clos St-Jacques 2.21 ha, Clos des Ruchottes 1.06 ha, Clos de la Roche 1.48 ha

Grapes

Pinot Noir

Wines

11 wines incl. Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Clos des Ruchottes, Mazis-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Clos de la Roche, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St-Jacques, Cazetiers, Lavaux St-Jacques

Style

Native-yeast ferments, gentle extraction, around 50% new French oak

Website

http://www.domaine-rousseau.com

Sources: domaine-rousseau.com, Wikipedia, sothebys.com