Domaine Armand Rousseau   Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru

2008 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru

By Domaine Armand Rousseau

2008 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy

In my forty years of wine criticism, few bottles have arrested my attention so commandingly as the 2008 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau. A symphony in a bottle, this Burgundian masterpiece hails from an exceptional terroir, known to articulate the pure expression of Pinot Noir with resplendent grace.

 

An Oenological Triumph of an Austere Year

While the 2008 vintage in Burgundy was first met with trepidation, owing to erratic weather patterns which tested the resolve of even the most astute vignerons, the wines have emerged triumphantly. They were sculpted by a cool growing season, culminating in an unexpectedly fine September which granted the fruit an extended maturation period. It is this climatic narrative that has scribed deep complexity into this Clos-de-Bèze.

The 2008 vintage from Domaine Armand Rousseau relays a deliberate terroir-driven tension. It unlocks a nuanced bouquet where ethereal whispers of red berries, a hint of licorice and ground clove dance with forest floor and touches of violet. The palate upholds Rousseau's reputation for finely-woven textures—silken yet piercingly focused.

 

Evidence in the Elixir

On tasting, one encounters an earthy minerality typical of Chambertin—a precise calibration between power and elegance, intensity and restraint. The wine’s sophisticated structure is enlightened by vibrant acidity and rounded tannins, revealing layers that speak with eloquence of their lineage. Investors will note the wine’s extraordinary capacity for ageing, promising continued evolution and complexity for years to come.

This Grand Cru bids the investor both pleasure and potential; with its idiosyncratic reflection of its vintage conditions, it stands distinctively amongst its peers as a pinnacle of 2008’s Burgundian harvest. In closing, the 2008 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau presents not only as a stellar indulgence for connoisseurs but also as a vibrant emblem for portfolios diversifying through fine wine investment.

Market price (USD)

$41,090.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

2103.75

Scores and tasting notes

96

Rousseau’s 2008 Chambertin-Clos de Beze is off the charts. Textured and layered throughout, this exquisite, captivating wine graces the palate with endless fruit framed by silky, refined tannins. All of the elements build effortlessly to the dazzling, impeccably crafted finish. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. I tasted the following wines with Frederic Robert, who works alongside Eric Rousseau. In 2009 Rousseau and his team began picking on September 7, the earliest in Gevrey. For the first time the estate used 20% whole clusters on all the wines except for Clos de la Roche, which was closer to 15%. The 2009s were scheduled to be bottled in April 2011. I also tasted a handful of 2008s that were deeply impressive. Importer: Frederic Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 1 May 2011

Vintage performance