Eric Rousseau peruses the wine list at Chez Guy, a chic restaurant favored by vignerons in the center of Gevrey-Chambertin. He settles on a Gevrey-Chambertin 2016 from Domaine Duroché, a colleague in the village. Decorations from the past weekend's festival of Saint Vincent, patron saint of winegrowers, remain installed in the town and clearly, there is pride and camaraderie among the Gevrey growers.
Humble, boyish, and soft-spoken, with smiling eyes, only the creases on his face bear witness to 40 years working in the vineyards. He raises his glass when proprietor Guy Rebsamen pours a taste. "C'est bon," he says and nods as if recognizing an old friend.
Rousseau knows the terroirs of Gevrey-Chambertin well. As the owner of Domaine Armand Rousseau, he farms parcels in some of its best climates, including sizable holdings in Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Ruchottes-Chambertin, and Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St.Jacques, an exalted premier cru that many Burgundy aficionados consider to be of grand cru quality.
His meticulous cultivation of the Pinot Noir grapes in these plots results in wines that are prized around the globe. The wines always reveal the purity of fruit, with superb harmony, complexity, and length and a vibrant feel that lends finesse and energy. The oak is never obtrusive, even in the top three-Clos St.-Jacques, Clos de Bèze, and Chambertinwhich sometimes age in 100% new oak Burgundy pièces. In short, they are benchmark wines for both the commune and the region.
The philosophy chez Rousseau is neither a mystery nor complicated and has remained consistent over three generations. "Our philosophy, really, is to bring Pinot Noir in the bottle as naturally as possible through our work in the vineyards, the vinification, and aging,” says Rousseau. “I think our clients come here and they find the wines agreeable, wines of pleasure."
Denne historien er fra May 31, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
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Denne historien er fra May 31, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New Zealand's Success Story - From small beginnings, the country's wines have ascended to global prominence
Since then, New Zealand has become one of the world’s most successful wine nations. Currently there are 102,000 acres planted, and 40 million cases were sold in 2023, according to the New Zealand Winegrowers. The tiny country produces less than 2% of the global wine supply, but it’s the world’s sixth-largest exporter of wine by value. Another thing that’s evolved? The image of corks no longer applies, as most vintners there eschew cork (only about 15% of the wines we review still use the closure).
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers - Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
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In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
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RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
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