Saturday, January 7, 2017

Domaine Armand ROUSSEAU & Fils (Gevrey-Chambertin) -- 2015 Tasted from Barrel



As with the majority of producers, quantities are small for 2015 at Rousseau. Harvesting began on 3 September. There was minimal chaptalization to extend fermentation. Alcohols are all at least 12.5º. As usual, no whole clusters here, but a small amount of stems was added to the fermenters. Malolactic fermentations finished in March.

These are excellent to great wines, yet having visited this estate annually for a quarter of a century, my feeling is that the very greatest Rousseau wines are not from the ripe vintages such as this one and 1990, 1999, 2005, and 2009 (which bring the highest prices at auction), but rather from the more classic Burgundian vintages such as 1991, 1993, 1998, and 2001. We’ll see what time gives us here.  

The overall style of the vintage here is one of finesse and some may be surprised by the lighter colors and textures of the wines. (Continue reading here.)