Domaine Georges Roumier

The domaine was founded in 1924 by Georges Roumier, who began domaine bottling in 1945. He was succeeded in 1957 by his son Jean-Marie and now grandson Christophe, who joined his father in 1982 and took over completely in 1992. Most of the wines are rented (en fermage) from family members although Ruchottes Chambertin is held on a share cropping detail with an external proprietor, Michel Bonnefond. The wines are seductively fruity in their youth yet with excellent ageing potential.

The grapes are sorted in the vineyard, with a table de tri at the winery since 2003. They are mostly destemmed, albeit depending on vineyard and vintage, with a few more stems being used recently – then placed in wooden fermenters. The juice is given a cool soak at 15° then allowed to start naturally. The juice is punched down twice a day and temperature controlled so as not to exceed 32°C.

There is no great reliance on new wood in the maturation cellar, with 15-25% being used for village wines, 25-40% for premiers crus and no more than 50% for Bonnes Mares. In recent years Christophe has been searching for, and achieving, a greater sense of precision in his wines.

Chambolle Musigny
Made from several parcels, totalling 3.70 hectares, and may include some declassified premier cru. Some lesser cuvées of Chambolle may be declassified in turn to Bourgogne Rouge.

Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras
Some of the vines date back to 1928 but most are more recent. The first vintage to be bottled separately was 1993. The wine tends to have a lively black cherry fruit character and a crunchy texture.

Morey St Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière
Named for former owners, the Abbey of La Bussière-sur-Ouche, this is now a monopoly of the Roumiers. The wine tends to have a slightly sauvage character typical of the wines of Morey St Denis.

Ruchottes Chambertin, Grand cru
Christophe Roumier is the sharecropper for an external owner who bought the plot in 1977. Half the vines date back to 1953 and half were planted in 1982. Together they make particularly fine and subtle wine of great length rather than weight.

Bonnes Mares, Grand Cru
There are several plots which make up the Roumier holding, but they broadly divide into one type on reddish soil, and another on whiter, stonier ground. The latter is in the upper part of the vineyard, nearer Chambolle, with very light soil and always low yields. The vines were planted in the 1940s, 1985 and 1994, the last two with clones. The terre rouge section was planted in 1928, 1973 and 1989 (using clones). The terre rouge produces a rich, rounded wine while the white soil adds tannic structure. They are blended together to make a very rich, robust wine capable of long ageing.

Le Musigny, Grand Cru
This tiny holding has ancient vines. The wine is usually made without destemming because of the tiny quantity involved which fills one or one and a bit barrels. It is thus an exceptional rarity in the market.

Corton Charlemagne, Grand Cru
Planted on the western slope of the hill of Corton in the village of Pernand Vergelesses. It is a long way to go, but Patrick Bize helps out with vineyard treatments and Christophe returns the favour on Patrick’s Latricières-Chambertin. Only 3 or 4 barrels are made per year.