Domaine Armand Rousseau’s 2019 Chambertin Grand Cru is a 100% Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, bottled at 13.5% alcohol. In critical tastings it is consistently described as a dense, compact Chambertin built for long aging, with most reviewers emphasizing concentration, structure, and a slow, reserved opening.
The strongest review is from *Decanter*, which awarded an excellent 99 points and called it “**the reference standard in Chambertin**.” The magazine notes the blend comes “from four parcels,” including “a cooler section near the southern end and another near the top of the slope,” producing “incredible concentration” with “a strong mineral/saline edge and a gamey note” that “emerge with time.” *Decanter* adds that it is “slightly less approachable young” and projects a long drinking arc (2029–2069).
*Burghound* (98 points) similarly stresses power held in check, citing a “ripe yet cool nose” with “spice, earth and floral elements” alongside “dark berries and poached plum.” On the palate it finds “excellent intensity,” “mineral-inflected flavors,” and an “imposingly powerful if decidedly compact finale,” concluding that the wine is “strikingly pure… already Zen-like in its sense of harmony” and “remarkably long-lived.”
William Kelley at *Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate* rates it 96–98 and calls it “the most introverted, tightly wound wine in the cellar,” yet also “full-bodied, deep and concentrated,” with aromas ranging from “exotic spices” and “grilled meats” to “cherries, cassis” and “loamy soil,” finishing “bright and precise” with a “penetrating finish.”
Not all notes are fully settled today. Neal Martin at *Vinous* (95) reports “some reduction on the nose” and describes “a fleshier style” with “plush tannins,” adding that “the jury is out… for now.” Jasper Morris (*Inside Burgundy*, 95) also frames it as “adolescent awkwardness,” despite “massive intensity” of deep red berry fruit. Overall, the consensus points to a serious 2019 Chambertin that may demand patience, but offers standout depth and longevity.
