2009 Domaine Armand Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml)

There's a reason Domaine Armand Rousseau's Chambertin sits at the very top of Burgundy collecting, and this bottle is a clear reminder why.

Rousseau has been one of the Côte de Nuits' defining estates since the early 1900s, one of the pioneers of domaine-bottling in Burgundy, and Chambertin is the pinnacle of the family's holdings, the flagship expression from Gevrey-Chambertin's most historic Grand Cru. Few wines in the world carry this combination of pedigree, scarcity, and critical stature.

The 2009 is regarded by top critics as one of the finest vintages ever produced of this wine, with Burghound calling it a brilliant effort among the best vintages the domaine has ever made. Grown from a healthy, moderate yield in an exceptional growing year, it's a wine of remarkable depth and harmony even in its youth, with the structure to evolve gracefully for decades.

This is Rousseau at the absolute summit of what Chambertin can be, a genuinely rare opportunity for any serious Burgundy collector.

Burghound | 98 Points

"This is also ultra-pure and densely fruited with notes of anise, mint, wet stone and a sauvage hint that introduces intensely earthy and mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that are rich, powerful, serious and densely concentrated, all wrapped in a silky, palate staining, explosive and colossally persistent finish. This is actually relatively expressive and approachable for a young Cham yet the balance and harmony is present for this to age for decades. A brilliant effort and one of the best vintages ever for this justifiably revered wine."

Stephen Tanzer | 97+ Points

"Dark red. Ineffable aromas of red berries, mint, crushed stone and flowers. At once silky and taut, with outstanding inner-mouth energy and perfume to the powerful, penetrating flavors of berries, flowers, spices and minerals. Seems to combine the aromatic perfume of the Clos Saint-Jacques with the tension and spine of the Clos de Beze--and to take them to a higher level. This remarkable wine, utterly harmonious from the outset, saturates the palate with extract on the unflagging finish. It's nearly impossible to spit this. Give this 10 or 12 years and then enjoy it over the following decade or two. Remarkably, this wine was made from a healthy yield of nearly 40 hectoliters per hectare."