Domaine Armand Rousseau   Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint Jacques

2011 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos-Saint-Jacques

By Domaine Armand Rousseau

2011 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos-Saint-Jacques from Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy, France

Burgundy aficionados hold the wines of Domaine Armand Rousseau in high esteem, and the 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos-Saint-Jacques is a particularly fascinating expression from this coveted terroir. Notably among the finest incarnations, this vintage mirrors a ballet on the palate, where precision meets grace.

 

Eloquence in a Bottle: A Connoisseur’s Delight

The 2011 vintage of Burgundy was one that demanded deft management, poise, and an innate understanding of one's vineyards. The season put winemakers to the test with its early promise followed by challenges that only the most skilled could navigate successfully. Crafting a wine of distinction during such a season is a testament to the excellence that defines Domaine Armand Rousseau.

The Clos-Saint-Jacques vineyard, revered as one of the most esteemed Premier Cru sites in Gevrey-Chambertin, yielded fruit that Domaine Armand Rousseau transformed into an alchemy of complexity and finesse in 2011. What unfolds in the glass is a Cornucopia of ripe red and black cherries, layers of earthiness, and an ethereal network of spice.

The 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos-Saint-Jacques displays its pedigree with assured balance; it’s robust yet possesses a vitality which hums through its core. Its interplay between fruit intensity and structural composure anchors it firmly as an investment-worthy collectible for enthusiasts seeking to diversify their portfolios with wine gems of abundant character.

As time ushers this vintage further along its evolutionary path, expect this wine to unfurl even more intricacies encapsulated within its refined boundaries. The stage is set for it to become not merely an echo of greatness but a clear resonance of Rousseau's inimitable style and substance.

In the landscape of Burgundian excellence, this vintage stands out in our collective memory for its articulate representation of both the climatic idiosyncrasies of 2011 and the venerable virtues inherent to the soils of Clos-Saint-Jacques. Capturing this moment in time—the essence and temperament of such a remarkable year—the 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau is not simply worthy of consideration by connoisseurs; it's a beacon for those passionate about incredibly crafted wines with storied provenance.

Current market price

£13,790.00

12x75cl

Highest score

94

POP score

985

Scores and tasting notes

94

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St Jacques 2011 has an earthy bouquet, the stems quite prominent, though it is still well defined and full of freshness and vitality. It opens beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, more linear than its peers, the acidity pitched higher, but that just lends tension and race on the finish. The aftertaste is long with plenty of spicy black fruit and blackcurrant pastilles. This is a very commendable, more masculine, structured Clos St. Jacques that has improved since I last tasted it a few months ago, putting a gap between itself and Rousseau's fellow premier cru.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 November 2014

Vintage performance