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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Few names in Burgundy carry the weight of Domaine Armand Rousseau. Armand Rousseau was born in 1884 and built the domaine in Gevrey-Chambertin into one of the most respected producers in the Côte d’Or, assembling holdings that read like a map of Burgundy’s best vineyards: Chambertin (2.55 hectares), Clos de la Roche, Mazis-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, the entire Clos des Ruchottes monopole, the Premier Cru Clos Saint-Jacques, and Clos de Bèze (1.42 hectares), which the domaine purchased in 1961.
Chambertin-Clos de Bèze is one of the two great Grand Crus of Gevrey-Chambertin, alongside Chambertin itself, and Rousseau’s version is among the most sought-after wines in Burgundy. The domaine describes it directly: “Clos de Bèze is often described as the feminine face of Chambertin, revealing all the elegance and finesse of the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation. The wine is complex with deep colour and a long finish, smooth and of great finesse.” It’s 100% Pinot Noir. In tastings, the Clos de Bèze is typically described as a touch more aromatic and higher-toned than Rousseau’s Chambertin, with silkier, more generous fruit, while Chambertin is the more tightly wound, structured sibling. The Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, reviewing the 2020, noted that the Clos de Bèze had “a more generous, muscular profile than the precise, tightly wound Chambertin,” and found it “more forward at this early juncture,” and Jasper Morris MW found that vintage “super suave and sensual,” scoring it 97.
Wine-Searcher’s aggregation of 300 critic scores across vintages averages 96 out of 100, with 191 scores at 95 or higher. The 2016 earned 98 from Falstaff and 97 from Wine Spectator. A Falstaff note on the 2016 captures the house style: “taut, enveloping, carried by firm tannins, finesse-rich structure, red berries on the finish, delicate cherry notes, salty, long-lasting finish, promising potential.” The wines are made for long cellaring, and community tasters regularly describe bottles of 15 to 25 years of age as just starting to open.
The 2021 vintage was a small-crop, cooler year across Burgundy, [VINTAGE NOTES AND 2021 CRITIC SCORES TO BE ADDED ONCE PUBLISHED]. It’s an allocated, collector-grade bottle that belongs in a cellar for a decade or more, and a landmark gift for a serious Burgundy collector.
Domaine Armand Rousseau 2021 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is produced by Domaine Armand Rousseau in Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France. It is 100% Pinot Noir from the domaine’s 1.42-hectare holding in the Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, acquired in 1961. 750ml.
No professional scores for the 2021 are published yet. For house-style context, from other vintages:
William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2020 vintage, January 2022):
“Full-bodied, multidimensional and fleshy, it’s broad and concentrated, with a more generous, muscular profile than the precise, tightly wound Chambertin. Which will ultimately emerge superior is anyone’s guess, but the Clos de Bèze is obviously more forward at this early juncture.”
Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy (2020 vintage, September 2024) — 97 Points:
“A fresh medium dark crimson purple. Quite a lot of new oak on the nose, perhaps understandable at this level. It is not going to dry out the fruit, which is much more red berries than black. Super suave and sensual.”
Falstaff — 98 Points (2016 vintage, May 2026):
“Deep crimson garnet, violet reflections, broad ochre rim. On the palate, taut, enveloping, carried by firm tannins, finesse-rich structure, red berries on the finish, delicate cherry notes, salty, long-lasting finish, promising potential.”
Wine Spectator — 97 Points (2016 vintage)
Wine-Searcher aggregate: 96/100 across 300 critic scores (191 scores of 95 or higher)
Domaine Armand Rousseau (producer notes):
“Clos de Bèze is often described as the feminine face of Chambertin, revealing all the elegance and finesse of the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation. The wine is complex with deep colour and a long finish, smooth and of great finesse.”
House-style description; 2021-specific notes to be added.
Nose
Deep crimson with violet reflections. Red cherry and red berries, violet, and fine spice, with subtle new oak and a high-toned, aromatic lift.
Palate
Silky and finely structured, taut but enveloping, with delicate cherry and red berry fruit, a saline, mineral thread, and fine-grained tannin.
Finish
Very long and complex, smooth and of great finesse, with a salty, lingering note.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France |
| Variety | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Producer | Domaine Armand Rousseau (founded by Armand Rousseau, b. 1884) |
| Holding | 1.42 hectares in Clos de Bèze, acquired 1961 |
| Critics (house style) | Wine-Searcher average 96/100 across vintages; 2016 Falstaff 98, Wine Spectator 97; 2020 Jasper Morris 97 |
| Cellaring | A decade or more |
| Style / Identity | The finesse-driven, silky “feminine face” of Chambertin from one of Burgundy’s greatest domaines |
| Aromas & Flavors | Red cherry, red berries, violet, spice, saline minerality |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cellar for 10 years or more; if opened earlier, decant for an hour or two and serve at about 60-64°F.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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