2011 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru
By Domaine Armand Rousseau
2011 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Armand Rousseau, Burgundy
Domaine Armand Rousseau stands as a beacon of French viniculture, revered for its portfolio of exceptional wines. The 2011 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru from this illustrious house is no exception, transcending the typical narrative of what we expect from a Burgundy of this calibre. The 2011 vintage was a challenging year that demanded unparalleled virtuosity from viticulturists and winemakers alike.
A Mosaic of Minerality and Elegance
The 2011 vintage in Burgundy was a curious dance with nature as winemakers faced unexpected weather patterns, which ultimately sculpted wines of unique character. The climatic interplay bestowed an elegant tension within the 2011 Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru, a spectacle for those with an appreciation for vinous complexity tempered by Mother Nature’s whims. It's the embodiment of Domaine Armand Rousseau's reverence for terroir and their adept adaptability to climatic caprices.
Investing in Refinement
Savvy wine investors seek out vintages that tell a story—one of rarity and refinement. The 2011 Mazis Chambertin from Domaine Armand Rousseau narrates just such an epic, making it a wise addition to any portfolio. Nuances of ripe cherry and subtle hints of earthy undergrowth are interwoven with poised tannins, delivering an olfactory bouquet that is nuanced yet unmistakably rich—a result of the meticulous winemaking that Rousseau is renowned for. While already demonstrating handsome maturity, this wine promises even further blossoming with age.
The palate resonates with the distinct attributes of its climate-touched terroir—minerality married with a discrete power that reflects the singular conditions of 2011. This amalgamation presents an expressively aromatic sip that lingers, commanding attention yet never overshadowing its innate grace—a characteristic investors would do well to note.
Ending on a harmonious crescendo, the Domaine Armand Rousseau concoction from 2011 is certain to capture the imaginations and palates of those who invest in its journey, ever amplifying its prestige as time etches forth. Its tale is one poised for future chapters as ripe for discovery as the vintage itself.
Current market price
£10,080.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
775.38
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune, you have to get past a little reduction on the nose of Rousseau’s Chambertin 2011 that is animally and feral, developing a strong estuarine influence - mudflats, kelp and sea salt. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, slightly chalky tannins and fine precision. Grippy in the mouth and more masculine with a precise, mineral finish. This is very fine but it needs 3-4 years to show its true nature.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 November 2014
The 2011 Mazy-Chambertin Grand Cru demonstrates more precision on the nose than the Charmes-Chambertin, a little more lift and vigor with pretty black cherries, cassis and dark chocolate scents. The palate is medium-bodied with some oak to be subsumed on the entry. There is good weight here, though it is not a complex Mazy-Chambertin compared to previous vintages. Still, it is showing fine composure and focus on the finish. Drink now-2020. The man, the legend himself, was sitting in the entrance office. Charles Rousseau, now in his ninth decade, looked gaunter than when we last met two or three years ago, but what a privilege just to see him enjoying the summer rays. I tasted through the 2011 with vineyard manager Frederic Robert, whose candid answers I always appreciate when tasting through their portfolio, especially since it is easy to succumb to reputation at this address. The 2011 is the first vintage with a redesigned bottle now embossed with the domaine name to prevent fraud. He also spoke about their new 1.3-hectares of vine from Chateau de Gevrey that is tentatively called “Clos du Chateau” or something similar. However, he admitted that there is much work to do in the vineyard since around 25% to 30% of the vines are missing and were replanting last October. “We started to pick early on the last day in August as spring had been so hot,” he informed me as we broached the subject of the 2011s. “It was a ripe vintage with more acidity if you compare it to 2007 but the wines are more balanced. It is more a vintage for restaurants than for aging.” Given that this is one of my favorite producers in the Cote d’Or, I have to admit that the Village and Premier Crus were lacking a little stuffing and precision compared to their own impeccable standards. In a way, I do not mind that since Rousseau always expresses the strengths and weaknesses of a vintage, which is something to be admired. Plus, on one or two occasions, I wonder whether they should have dialed down the new oak, in particular with the Clos-de-Beze that seems unable to handle the wood nearly as well as the Chambertin. Still, there are some beautiful wines here in 2011 and a quick barrel tasting of 2012s revealed joy to come. Importer: Frederick Wildman Selections; New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 August 2013