Armand Rousseau (Winemaking, Best Wines 2024)
One of the oldest wine estates of France, Domaine Armand Rousseau, is known for its exceptional terroir-driven Pinot Noir wines. The “King of Gevrey Chambertin” took the first place in the 2019 edition of the Liv-ex Power 100 - ahead of even Domaine Leroy and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Take a tour of this brilliant Burgundy winery, its colorful history, vineyards, unique winemaking practices, and the best Armand Rousseau wines to buy in 2024.
You’ll also discover a super-easy way to invest in these collectible wines.
Further reading
- Master the art of Investing In Fine Wines with this insightful guide.
- Looking for the perfect drink for an upcoming brunch? Try these Delicious Malbec Wines or whip up wine and Champagne cocktails like Mimosas or Sangria
A Quick Intro To Armand Rousseau Winery
The Domaine Armand Rousseau is situated in the Cote de Nuits region of Cote d’Or, Burgundy. The winery is currently managed by the third and fourth-generation of the Rousseau family - Eric Rousseau and his daughter, Cyrielle.
The Domaine produces 11 delicious red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety - of which, six are Grand Cru wines and three are Premier Crus.
The estate has 15 hectares of vineyard holdings across Cote d’Or - including Grand Crus, Premier Crus, and Village appellation vineyards.
Let’s discover Armand Rousseau’s journey to becoming one of the leading wineries of France.
History Of Domaine Armand Rousseau: A Family Of Wine Growers
Armand Rousseau inherited a few vineyard plots, cellars, and the current Domaine winery in the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation as part of his marriage in 1909.
He acquired new plots in the prestigious Charmes-Chambertin, Clos de la Roche (in Morey-Saint-Denis), and Chambertin areas.
In the 1930s, he bottled his best wines with the help of Raymond Badouin (the founder of 'revue des Vins de France') - becoming one of the first Burgundy producers to bottle his own wine.
By the late 1930s, he started promoting his wines in the US - another first among Burgundy producers.
After Armand’s tragic death in a car accident in 1959, his son Charles took over.
Charles continued to expand the vineyards across the region. He also started marketing his wines in the global wine world - in England, Germany, Switzerland, and soon, to the rest of the world.
Eric Rousseau (Charle’s son and a graduate in oenology) and his daughter, Cyrielle, currently manage this prestigious estate.
Armand Rousseau Vineyards And Viticulture
The Armand Rousseau vineyard plots are located on the eastern and south-eastern slopes of Cote de Nuits, giving the vine plantings perfect sun exposure.
The vineyards are planted with old vines that enjoy clay-limestone soils - the reason why Armand Rousseau wines are complex and concentrated.
Eric Rousseau practices traditional viticultural techniques combined with modern methodologies to bring out the best expression of his Pinot Noir. This includes:
Green harvesting helps to reduce yields (30-40 hL per hectare) and produce concentrated fruits.
Leaf stripping helps the grape vines get enough sun exposure for ripening.
- Timely plowing of the vineyards helps aerate the soil. Avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers further maintains soil health.
Let’s explore more about the wines made here.
The Exotic Armand Rousseau Wines
Based on the source of the fruit, Armand Rousseau wines can be classified into three:
1. Grand Cru Wines
Armand Rousseau’s Grand Cru wines are made using fruit from its best vineyards. The six Grand Cru wines are:
- Le Chambertin
- Charmes Chambertin
- Chambertin Clos de Beze
- Ruchottes Chambertin
- Mazy Chambertin
- Clos de la Roche
Each wine showcases the unique terroir of the respective vineyard. The wines usually have fruity flavors with deep complexity.
2. Premier Cru Wines
Armand Rousseau also produces three delicious Premier Cru wines:
- Clos St Jacques
- Cazetiers
- Lavaux St Jacques
Like Grand Crus, Premier Crus have elegance and finesse and showcase the brilliant terroir of Burgundy.
3. Other Armand Rousseau Wines
In addition, Armand Rousseau also produces two other noteworthy Pinot Noir grape wines - Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée Clos du Château and Gevrey-Chambertin Village appellation wine.
Let’s take a quick look at the Armand Rousseau winemaking process.
The Winemaking Techniques Of Armand Rousseau
Apart from the typical red wine process, winemaking at Domaine Armand Rousseau goes through these steps:
Around 90% of the grapes are destemmed. All the vine fruit is placed in open stainless steel tanks, where it is fermented for 18 to 20 days.
- During temperature-controlled fermentation (31-34oC), the juice is continuously pumped over with regular treading to release color and tannins.
- After fermentation, the wines are delicately pressed in a pneumatic press and are allowed to settle for 24 hours.
- Finally, the winemaker transfers the wine to oak barrels. Here, malolactic fermentation takes place naturally.
- In the barrels, the wine is aged for 18 months before bottling.
Every Rousseau wine is released exactly after two years of the vintage.
Best Armand Rousseau Wines In 2024 (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)
Here are some of the best Armand Rousseau wines to buy in 2024.
1. 1959 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru
An exotic Pinot Noir wine, the 1959 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru has seductive aromas and flavors.
This Burgundy wine has a fruit-driven bouquet with raspberry and kirsch aromas. The intense cherry flavors are balanced by refreshing acidity. It is a great wine to pair with juicy steaks.
Price of 1959 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru: $15,077
2. 1991 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru
The 1991 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru has classic notes of Burgundy Pinot Noir on the palate.
The nose gives off an intricate red fruit, sauvage and earth bouquet. The palate showcases an expressive depth with dominant black fruit flavors.
Price of 1991 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru: $10,256
Also read: Discover the secret behind the Brilliant Chianti Wines with this comprehensive article.
3. 1976 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Vieux Marc de Bourgogne
This vintage wine has rustic iron scents that balance the intense fruit aromas of the wine. The palate has a spicy kick with rounded flavors of mushrooms, sauvage, and earth.
Price of 1976 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Vieux Marc de Bourgogne: $1,817
4. 1993 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Clos Saint-Jacques Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru
A garnet-colored wine, this vintage has an expressive nose with dominant red fruit aromas. The palate is light-bodied with mature oak notes.
Price of 1993 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Clos Saint-Jacques Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru: $3,600
5. Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Vieille Fine de Bourgogne
The Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Vieille Fine de Bourgogne is a rare Pinot Noir wine with a delicate palate. The intricate notes of sweet fruits dominate the wine with subtle smokey flavors.
Price of Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Vieille Fine de Bourgogne: $1,198
6. 1964 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru
This 1er cru wine has a seductive bouquet with earth and licorice aromas. This Burgundy has a soft and silky palate with tart cherry and mushroom notes.
Price of 1964 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru: $3,761
7. 2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 'Clos des Ruchottes' Monopole
One of the most popular Armand Rousseau wines, this 2000 vintage of Clos des Ruchottes is full of pure aromas.
Tasting it will reveal that red berries dominate the nose and mouthfeel with subtle rust hints. The palate has intense dark cherry notes with refreshing acidity.
Price of 2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 'Clos des Ruchottes' Monopole: $1,367
8. 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
A deep red wine, the 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru is admired for its concentrated flavors.
The nose has complex and layered aromas of dark fruit, wild strawberry, menthol, red berries, and Chinese spice. On tasting it, you’ll find that the fine tannins give the palate a velvety mouthfeel.
Price of 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru: $1,013
9. 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
The 2005 Père et Fils Clos de la Roche Grand Cru showcases the classic Rousseau wine style.
Dark cherry and blackberry aromas are prominent on the nose. The palate has firm tannin levels that will loosen up after a few years of aging.
Price of 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Clos de la Roche Grand Cru: $1,007
10. 1995 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
The nose of this Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru exhibits intense red fruit aromas with subtle spicy hints. The medium-bodied palate has a velvety texture and a dry finish.
Price of 1995 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru: $1,073
Now let's look at the investment potential of this legendary brand.
Should You Invest In Armand Rousseau Wines?
Armand Rousseau’s Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines can spend up to 30 years in the cellar. Its top wines like Clos Saint-Jacques, Clos de Bèze, and Chambertin Grand Cru can age even longer.
With an annual production of only about 63,000 bottles, it is undoubtedly challenging to get hold of these in-demand bottles.
These bottles also enjoy a steady price appreciation:
- The 2013 Chambertin Grand Cru went up by 11% from $1,862 in 2020 to $2,076 in 2021.
- The 2017 Clos de Beze Grand Cru showed a 21% price rise from $2,052 to $2,497 from 2019 to 2020.
Besides this, Armand Rousseau wines get frequent appreciation from acclaimed wine magazines like Burghound and Vinous.
They’re also a favorite at auctions:
In 2019, a case of Armand Rousseau Chambertin 1999 sold for $62,000 at the Acker’s auction.
- In the same year, at a Sotheby’s auction, a 10-bottle lot of Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin 1991 was sold for $99,200.
If you want to start investing in fine wines, Armand Rousseau is a great place to start. Some of the vintages to look for are 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005, and 2002.
But how will you find authentic Armand Rousseau wines without encountering a counterfeit bottle?
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