Winemaker Notes
Domaine Roux is situated in the Saint Aubin village of the Côte de Beaune. This historic property maintains one of the most incredible libraries of back vintage Burgundy in magnums. For many generations, the Roux Family have supplied their wines to top-notch restaurants and boutique wine shops throughout France. No one in Burgundy has such an impressive collection of verticals from such a diverse array of villages, single vineyards and Premier Cru wines.
Founded in 1885, Domaine Roux is currently operated by the 4th and 5th generation of the Roux family. With vineyard holdings throughout the Côte d'Or, the majority of the vines are planted on eastern and southern facing slopes and bene?t from ideal exposures. All grapes are harvested by hand and at optimal ripeness. With steadfast attention to detail, Domaine Roux combines valuable traditions with the most advanced technology to produce a vast portfolio of terroir-driven, varietally correct expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir renowned for superior quality. Roux Pere & Fils has evolved into one of the most important producers in Cote d’Or (Burgundy). Nested in the heart of Burgundy with 160 acres of vines, the vineyards cover the key villages. Tradition, know-how and family spirit describe this winery best, with 9 Roux members involved in the 100% family business today.
This modern and forward-looking company sees its wines exported extensively to major wine markets throughout the world. Today, Domaine Roux is one of major land-holders in Burgundy, putting this label in a unique position to control production and quality from the very beginning of the production cycle. The vineyards of Domaine Roux include many of the region’s most respected villages including holding in St-Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay, Meursault, Vougeot, Gevrey-Chambertin, etc.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Chambolle-Musigny represents the charm of the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy. But you’ll find that term mainly in reference to the vineyards in its southern stretches, which border Clos Vougeot: the Grand Cru of Le Musingy and in part, its neighboring and most exceptional Premier Cru, Les Amoureuses. Some producers argue for the primacy of Les Amoureuses and its eligibility for Grand Cru status given its wines can sometimes surpass other Grands Crus.
Le Musigny ranks on par with the most acclaimed Grands Crus for Pinot Noir: Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg, Chambertin, and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. It is also the only Grand Cru in Côte de Nuits for Chardonnay. All of the others are in Côte de Beaune.
This village can in fact claim only two Grands Crus vineyards and—in the context of breaking down the minutiae—they are markedly different. Bonnes-Mares, the other one at the far northern end above the village, bordering Morey-St-Denis, offers power, strength and great aging potential. But Chambolle-Musigny includes a nice handful of exceptional Premiers Crus, as noted above with Les Amoureuses as the finest. Le Fuees and Les Cras are other noteworthy Premiers Crus.
Overall, a top Chambolle-Musigny offers pure aromas of violets, dark cherry and damp earth, coupled with a velvety elegance, supple mid-palate, an abundance of black and red berry, and finesse and power through a long and fine-grained finish.