Gevrey-Chambertin. Now we're into the big time. In the heart of Burgundy, a thin 30-mile stretch of land pumps the blood of the
grandest name in wine. Burgundy stands at the core of the great French traditions of food and wine.
Gevrey-Chambertin is one of the communes of Burgundy's Cote d'Or, specifically of the Cote de Nuits, the northern section. Gevrey
village has been famous for its wine for more than a thousand years, and its eminence is marked by the possession of eight Grand Crus.
Chambertin is one of the greatest of Burgundian vineyards and its wine, when well made, and from a good year, are unsurpassed. The 1
3-hectare (32 acre) vineyard is legally rated a "Great Growth" (Grand Cru), a distinction reserved for only 31 of the hundreds of
Burgundian vineyards. Its wine can take the
commune name Gevrey-Chambertin, the district] name of Cote de Nuits, or the general name of Burgundy (Bourgogne), yet R will always be
labeled with the famous name of Chambertin if the wine meets the minimum standards demanded.
Historically, the Rousseau domaine is
one of Burgundy's most important. Today, the estate is run by the meticulous Charles Rousseau, who assumed control in 1959, after his
father was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Charles has produced a succession of beautiful wines. The wines spend 18 months
in cask and are then bottled after a light plaque filtration. The top wine here is the Chambertin, made from 50-year-old vines Fewer than
300 cases are made in an abundant year.
Chambertin was Napoleon's favorite wine
reportedly accompanying him on all campaigns.
The wine is strong, dark, heavy wine.
Uncompromisingly red: Full, robust, and takes a
long time to develop. These are some of the best
wines of Burgundy. One of the very best of all
has been domaine bottled by Rousseau. The
character of the wines shows a wonderful variety
of qualities, for they are perhaps the most vigorous and powerful of red Burgundys, yet excel in finesse and breed.
comments have been excerpted from various sources:
Lichine's New Encyclopedia of Wine and Spirits, Gold's Wines and Spirits of the World, Parker's Burgundy, and Oz Clarke's Essential Wine Book. No endorsement of Klein's Designs should be construed.
Gevrey-Chambertin. Now we're into the big time. In the heart of Burgundy, a thin 30-mile stretch of land pumps the blood of the
grandest name in wine. Burgundy stands at the core of the great French traditions of food and wine.