Domaine Armand Rousseau

The history of Domaine Armand Rousseau

Domaine Armand Rousseau has belonged to the Rousseau family for 4 generations, passionately cultivating the magnificent terroirs of the Côte de Nuits. It was founded in the early 20th century by Armand Rousseau, whose family of small landowners was made up of winemakers, coopers and wine merchants. Armand started out with the vines he inherited in the commune of Gevrey Chambertin.

With his marriage in 1909, Armand Rousseau increased the size of the vineyard, as well as the number of buildings for producing and storing wine. He began marketing his wines in bulk to regional merchants. After buying up prestigious plots - Chambertin, Charmes Chambertin and Clos de la Roche - he decided to bottle his own production and focus sales on private individuals and restaurants.

Armand Rousseau continued to expand his estate with the purchase of Grands Crus, classified as early as 1935: Mazy Chambertin and Mazoyères Chambertin (marketed under the appellation Charmes Chambertin). Clos Saint Jacques was subsequently acquired by his son Charles. By this time, Charles had received a classical secondary education, studied law and then oenology at Dijon University. He joined his father in 1945 at the helm of the estate.

Armand Rousseau died prematurely in a car accident in 1959. Charles inherited the 6-hectare estate, which he gradually added to with the acquisition of parcels of Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Clos des Ruchottes and Chambertin. Charles focuses on export sales.

Charles' son Eric joined Domaine Armand Rousseau in 1982. He set about leading the estate towardsorganic production. In 2014, Éric was joined by his daughter, Cyrielle. Since then, they have managed the estate together.

The Domaine Armand Rousseau vineyard

The Domaine Armand Rousseau vineyard today covers 15.33 hectares, including 3 hectares of Appellation Village, 3.77 hectares of Appellation Premier Cru and 8.51 hectares of Appellation Grand Cru, located in the communes of Morey Saint Denis and Gevrey Chambertin. It produces an average of 63,000 bottles, 75% of which are exported to some thirty countries.

The king grape variety at Domaine Armand Rousseau is Pinot Noir. The soil is clay-limestone, benefiting from the northern continental climate of the Côte de Nuits.

The wines of Domaine Armand Rousseau

Domaine Armand Rousseau offers 11 wines:
- Gevrey Chambertin Cuvée Clos du Château - Monopole
- Gevrey Chambertin Village
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux-Saint-Jacques
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers
- Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
- Mazy Chambertin Grand Cru
- Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
- Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru - Clos des Ruchottes - Monopole
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques
- Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
- Chambertin Grand Cru