Description
Gentle lower slope parcels form the basis of the 2020 Domaine Armand Rousseau Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru, where deeper limestone influenced clay soils buffer vine stress during warm growing seasons. Long term vineyard research at the domaine has focused on clonal selection, rootstock matching, and canopy strategies adapted to these more sheltered exposures. In the rapid 2020 season, tannin and seed maturity were monitored closely to determine picking sequences across parcels with differing water retention. Fruit was harvested by hand and fermented in traditional open top vats, with cap management adjusted to each lot’s structure and whole cluster use applied selectively based on stem maturity. Élevage in French oak followed, guided by ongoing tasting to maintain clarity of site expression. The 2020 Charmes Chambertin continues Rousseau’s work of demonstrating how deeper soils and measured cellar decisions shape grand cru Pinot Noir in a warm year.