Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2011 750ml

An overtly spicy and very earthy nose is composed by notes of red currant, plum and enough wood to notice. There is lovely richness to the round, full-bodied and attractively energetic medium-bodied flavors that are shaped by relatively firm tannins on the saline-infused finish. This is delicious effort should reward mid to longer-term cellaring. I would further note that while the pliant structure allows this to be approached now, I would hold for another 5 to 8 years in the hopes that better complexity will develop.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Cote De Nuits
• Sub Appellation: Clos De La Roche
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Pinot Noir

Regularly described as being the grape varietal responsible for producing the world’s most romantic wines, Pinot Noir has long been associated with elegance and a broad range of flavors The name means ‘black pine’ in French, and this is due to the fact that the fruit of this particular varietal is especially dark in color, and hangs in a conical shape, like that of a pine cone. Despite being grown today in almost every wine producing country, Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape variety to cultivate. This is because it is especially susceptible to various forms of mold and mildew, and thrives best in steady, cooler climates. However, the quality of the fruit has ensured that wineries and vintners have persevered with the varietal, and new technologies and methods have overcome many of the problems it presents. Alongside this, the wide popularity and enthusiasm for this grape has ensured it will remain a firm favorite amongst wine drinkers for many years to come.