Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte-de-Nuits, Bourgogne, France
One of the greatest wine Domaines world-wide.
Back in the 1930s Armand was one of the first of five domaines to defy the negociants and bottle their own wine. The Rousseau name is synonymous with Gevrey-Chambertin, more recently Armand passed the reins to Charles who on retirement passed control to his son Eric.
Ninety percent of their wines are exported, however, due to world demand increasing, allocations to even long-standing customers have shrunk. Their vineyards amount to 14 hectares of which 8.5 are grand cru. Their much-acclaimed premier cru Clos St-Jacques (2.2ha) is highly sought-after and considered to be of grand cru quality.
The organically farmed vines are very old, and the yields are low. The winemaking is superb with the result of wines being rich in colour and pure in texture, never over-oaked and always concentrated, balanced and classy - when aged they become rounded and velvety with great finesse.
The New Zealand agency is available exclusively through Peter Maude Fine Wines.