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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Clos de la Roche is the largest Grand Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis, and one of the most distinctive in the Côte de Nuits: a wine with more structure, minerality, and earthy depth than the silkier Gevrey Grand Crus. Domaine Armand Rousseau’s holding is nearly 1.5 hectares (1.48), assembled through purchases in 1965 and 1975, about a hectare of which is in Les Fremières, and the rest in Clos de la Roche proper. That makes Rousseau the third-largest proprietor in the Grand Cru, after Ponsot and Dujac.
The producer’s own description is direct: “The wines are mineral and vibrant; long, firm and very consistent.” Decanter, which says Rousseau’s Clos de la Roche is “sometimes overlooked,” calls it “a superb wine,” with “ripe plum and black cherry fruit on the palate underscored by a firm, earthy minerality,” and “wonderfully dense and long” texture. It’s a Grand Cru for people who want the Rousseau finesse with more weight and mineral grip than Charmes-Chambertin.
The 2021 earned strong scores. Vinous’s Neal Martin scored it 95 (93 to 95 in its range): “The 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is fragrant, delineated and coiled up at first, although it only takes a few swirls of the glass before it awakens. Crushed stone infuses the red fruit, and hints of oyster shells emerge with time,” and on the palate, “medium-bodied and very cohesive, with finely-chiselled tannins and just a little confit red fruit that enlivens the finish, which demonstrates more persistence than the Mazy-Chambertin. Delightful.” The Wine Advocate’s William Kelley scored it 94 (92 to 94): “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of plums, orange zest, vine smoke and loamy soil, Rousseau’s 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vibrant, with powdery tannins, bright acids and a long, mineral finish.” Burghound also scored it 94.
Wine-Searcher’s average across 221 critic scores and vintages is 94 out of 100. The Morey-Saint-Denis character, a darker, more mineral, earthier expression, makes it a good complement to Rousseau’s Gevrey Grand Crus (Charmes-Chambertin and Clos de Bèze) in a side-by-side tasting. It’s a wine to cellar for a decade or more, and pairs well with duck, game, truffles, and roast lamb.
Domaine Armand Rousseau 2021 Clos de la Roche 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 1.48-hectare holding in Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (Morey-Saint-Denis), about 1 hectare of which is in Les Fremières. 750ml.
Neal Martin, Vinous — 95 Points (range 93–95):
“The 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is fragrant, delineated and coiled up at first, although it only takes a few swirls of the glass before it awakens. Crushed stone infuses the red fruit, and hints of oyster shells emerge with time... The palate is medium-bodied and very cohesive, with finely-chiselled tannins and just a little confit red fruit that enlivens the finish, which demonstrates more persistence than the Mazy-Chambertin. Delightful.”
William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 94 Points (range 92–94):
“Unwinding in the glass with aromas of plums, orange zest, vine smoke and loamy soil, Rousseau’s 2021 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vibrant, with powdery tannins, bright acids and a long, mineral finish.”
Burghound — 94 Points
Decanter (on the domaine’s Clos de la Roche, 2022 vintage; house-style context):
“Although it is sometimes overlooked, the Clos de la Roche from Rousseau is a superb wine... it opens up with ripe plum and black cherry fruit on the palate underscored by a firm, earthy minerality. The texture is wonderfully dense and long.”
Domaine Armand Rousseau (producer notes):
“The wines are mineral and vibrant; long, firm and very consistent.”
Nose
Fragrant and delineated. Red fruit and plum, with orange zest, crushed stone, vine smoke, loamy earth, and hints of oyster shell.
Palate
Medium- to full-bodied, fleshy yet vibrant, with plum, black cherry, and a touch of confit red fruit, powdery tannin, and bright acidity.
Finish
Long, mineral, and persistent, with fine-grained tannin.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France |
| Variety | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Producer | Domaine Armand Rousseau |
| Holding | 1.48 ha (about 1 ha in Les Fremières); acquired 1965 & 1975 |
| Critics | Vinous 95 · Wine Advocate 94 · Burghound 94 · Wine-Searcher average 94/100 (221 scores) |
| Cellaring | A decade or more |
| Style / Identity | The mineral, earthy, firmer Rousseau Grand Cru from Morey-Saint-Denis |
| Aromas & Flavors | Plum, black cherry, orange zest, crushed stone, vine smoke, loamy earth |
| 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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