2021 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru "Clos St-Jacques"

“This magnificent wine has a dark ruby hue, with effusive ripe plummy fruit, a pronounced earthy edge, and notes of liquorice and pepper. The texture is dense and firm, yet there is an elegance that makes the wine feel approachable. The depth of flavour here suggests ageing for at least five years before enjoying it since there is a lot of tightly wound complexity here. The grapes come from the 2.2-hectare parcel on the edge of the cooling influence of the combe that delivery a silky wine of great finesse and purity. (Drink between 2027-2060) (CC)” (11/2022)

“The Clos St. Jacques from Domaine Rousseau is aged in more new oak than the Ruchottes and it shows this new oaky influence in a very attractive manner in 2021. The bouquet delivers a complex and very classy blend of red and black cherries, grilled meats, raw cocoa, a lovely base of soil, delicate spice tones, cedary new oak and plenty of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and elegant, with a lovely core of pure fruit, excellent transparency, suave tannins and a long, complex and perfectly balanced finish.” (11/2022)

“Here too the elegant nose is cool, pure and reserved with its pretty and layered array of various red berries, plum, violet and soft earth hints. The delicious middleweight flavors possess outstanding delineation and the same pungent minerality that adds a sense of energy and relief to the superbly long if youthfully austere finale that is quite firmly structured. This is also excellent and should age accordingly. (Drink starting 2036) (AM)” (01/2024)

“The 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques delivers aromas of cassis, sweet berries, spices and soil, framed by a creamy patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, supple and concentrated, it's layered and seamless, with a fleshy, sensual profile and an expansive finish. (WK)” (01/2023)

“The 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru has a perfumed, fairly "airy" bouquet of redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit, crushed stone, loam and just a hint of tobacco. This is certainly what you might describe as a "transparent" nose. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. The 2021 is very elegant and smooth in terms of texture, with a mélange of red and black fruit intermixed with graphite and orange rind towards the finish. Moderate length. This will be a Clos Saint-Jacques that will drink earlier than other vintages but may surprise with its longevity. (NM)” (01/2023)