Domaine Armand Rousseau   Charmes Chambertin

1990 Charmes-Chambertin

By Domaine Armand Rousseau

1990 Charmes-Chambertin from Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy, France

The 1990 vintage from the venerated slopes of Charmes-Chambertin unfolds a narrative filled with grace and depth that establishments like Cult Wines ardently seek to include in their expertly curated portfolios. Domaine Armand Rousseau, a family lineage revered for its symbiotic relationship with the land, has indeed crafted a masterpiece with the 1990 Charmes-Chambertin.

 

Decoding a Vintage: A Connoisseur's Insight

The hallmark of a truly remarkable vintage is its ability to capture the year's unique climatic narrative within its essence. The 1990 vintage was blessed by the heavens with a growing season that found a delicate balance between warm days and cool nights, ensuring an impeccable ripeness accompanied by vital acidity. The 1990 Charmes-Chambertin thus reveals itself as a paragon of such fortunes; a symphony of mature tannins paired with an intricate tapestry of flavours that captivate the palate.

 

Investment Merits: The Mature Commodore of Burgundy

In an era where fine wine investment necessitates both foresight and historical cognizance, the 1990 Charmes-Chambertin accentuates its worthiness. With a bouquet disclosing whispers of cherry wood, truffle, and autumnal underbrush, this wine bestows a cornucopia of olfactory delight. The body remains exquisitely structured, carrying forth luscious red berry fruit interspersed with gentle hints of spice and earthy nuance, developing into a protracted sojourn on the finish.

A confluence of rarity and pedigree lends the 1990 Charmes-Chambertin remarkable potential as a cornerstone for collectors seeking luminaries to bolster their investment groundwork. As time bequeaths further complexity upon this already multifaceted Burgundian gem, opportunities to acquire such bottles become as scarce as their numbered existence.

 

Summary: The 1990 Vintage Revisited

Certain years stand out in one’s memory as hallmarks of viticultural providence; the 1990 season in Burgundy holds such distinction. To sip from the storied vineyards of Domaine Armand Rousseau is to partake in an enological journey few wines can replicate. For enthusiasts curating collections with longevity and depth in mind, or for investors looking to add established provenance to their portfolio, the 1990 Charmes-Chambertin is a beacon that resonates through time – mellifluous and enduring.

Current market price

£24,710.00

12x75cl

Highest score

84

POP score

6177.5

Scores and tasting notes

84

At the top level, Rousseau consistently produces three profound wines - Gevrey-Chambertin-Clos St.-Jacques (as good as most producer's grands crus), Chambertin-Clos de Beze, and Chambertin. That being said, I remain perplexed as to why Rousseau's other wines are so surprisingly light and fluid. While good, sometimes very good, they are markedly inferior to his top three wines. Never one to jump on the bandwagon for forward, super-ripe vintages, (Rousseau still believes 1983 is the finest vintage of the eighties), he is unpersuaded by the acclaim bestowed on 1990. Importer: Frederick Wildman, New York, NY.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 October 1992

Vintage performance