Domaine Armand Rousseau

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Clos St Jacques'

Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 'Clos St Jacques'

2009

Vintage

Varietal

Pinot Noir

ABV

Peak 2012-2033

Where it is, June 2026

At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2012-2033).

In 2026 this 2009 Clos St Jacques sits squarely mid-peak. The drinking window opened around 2010, and the wine entered its plateau in 2012 where it will hold through 2033 before a slow fade toward hard decline near 2042. At seventeen years old it has shed any youthful firmness and resolved into a mature, layered Pinot Noir: the fruit has turned from primary to savory, the tannins have softened, and the perfume has bloomed. There is no urgency to drink, yet no reason to wait either. Pull a bottle now for the full sweet-fruited, stony expression, or hold confidently for years more.

Related vintages

The ‘09 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 'Clos St Jacques'.

A perfumed, stone-pure 2009 Clos St Jacques from Armand Rousseau, mid-peak in 2026 and drinking beautifully with two decades still ahead.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Tasting note

Perfumed, elegant and ultra-pure stone-infused red berry fruit leads the nose, lifted by discreet wood spice rather than overt oak. The palate is detailed and strikingly intense, medium-to-full-bodied at a measured 6, with a firm tannic spine that reads as structure rather than grip; tannin sits at a moderate 5, fully resolved after seventeen years yet still framing the wine. Acidity at 6 keeps everything bright and mineral, carrying the stony, crushed-rock character that defines this south-facing site. Crushed raspberry, wild cherry and a thread of rose and earth carry through to a massively long finish. This is the warm 2009 vintage at its most refined: fleshy and generous, but always poised, with the purity and length that mark Clos St Jacques as a wine that performs well above its premier cru rank.

The 2009 vintage

2009 was a warm, sun-filled and ripe vintage across the Cote de Nuits. A heatwave that set in around August 10 carried perfect ripening through a dry, sunny early September, while late-July storms had given the vines just enough water. The result is charming, fluid reds with luxurious ripe fruit and surprisingly fresh red-berry character; the best, from structured Cote de Nuits sites like this one, carry real depth and the backbone to age. Gevrey-Chambertin in particular showed smooth tannins, an emphasis on red fruit and well-defined minerality, exactly the profile this bottle still wears.

About Domaine Armand Rousseau

Domaine Armand Rousseau is the benchmark Gevrey-Chambertin estate, now led by Eric Rousseau and his daughter Cyrielle. Clos St Jacques is a celebrated south-facing premier cru that the family rates above several of their grands crus, finishing the best vintages with up to 100 percent new Allier oak yet always keeping the site's stony purity in front. The house style here is perfume and precision rather than power.

From the cellar: pair with

Roast squab with wild mushrooms and a red-wine jus

The moderate body of 6 meets the bird without flattening it, while the resolved tannin of 5 grips the seared skin and mushrooms enough to feel structured but never harsh.

Coq au vin or beef bourguignon

A classic Burgundian braise echoes the wine's earthy maturity; acidity of 6 cuts the rich sauce and keeps each bite fresh, and the tannin of 5 stands up to slow-cooked meat.

Roast duck breast with cherry or black currant sauce

Body of 6 carries the duck's richness, the bright acid of 6 mirrors the tart fruit sauce, and the gentle tannin of 5 frames the meat rather than overwhelming its delicacy.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 60-64F (16-18C)
Decanting: Decant 45 to 60 minutes before serving. At seventeen years a gentle pour off any light sediment opens the perfume and lets the stony red fruit unfurl, without blowing off the delicate floral top notes that make this wine. Stand the bottle upright a day ahead so the sediment settles.
Cellar Storage: 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.

Track this bottle Read the Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 'Clos St Jacques' guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

When should I drink this 2009 Clos St Jacques?

It is drinking beautifully right now in 2026, sitting mid-peak. The window opened in 2010 and the peak plateau runs from 2012 through 2033, so you can enjoy it tonight or cellar it confidently for years before any decline sets in toward 2042.

Should I decant it?

Yes, give it 45 to 60 minutes in a decanter. Stand the bottle upright a day ahead to settle the sediment that a seventeen-year-old Burgundy will throw, then pour gently to lift the perfume and stony red fruit while preserving the delicate floral notes.

What food pairs best with it?

Lean toward Burgundian classics and game: roast squab, coq au vin, beef bourguignon, or duck with a cherry sauce. The moderate body, fresh acidity and resolved tannins suit earthy, savory dishes far better than heavy, fatty cuts that would bury its finesse.

Can I keep cellaring it, or is it past its best?

It is nowhere near past its best. At mid-peak in 2026 it holds plenty of structure, and the plateau extends to 2033 with a gentle fade only approaching 2042. Stored at 55F on its side, this bottle will reward patience as easily as it rewards opening now.

What should I open next in a similar style?

Explore more from the same heartland with the [Burgundy cellar guide](/wines/region/burgundy) and browse other [Pinot Noir wines](/wines/varietal/pinot-noir). For a direct vertical comparison, try the firmer, younger [2012 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques](/wines/domaine-armand-rousseau/gevrey-chambertin-1er-cru-clos-st-jacques/2012).