Winemaker Notes
This wine presents an inviting nose of blood orange, red berry fruit, and undergrowth, while the palate is vibrant and powerful without ever becoming excessive or heavy. It remains precise throughout, finishing with an impressively long aftertaste that suggests excellent aging potential.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Pommard Les Rugiens-Bas 1er Cru has a slightly chalky nose, a mélange of red and black fruit and touches of undergrowth and autumn leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, crisp and focused, quite elegant towards the finish with a long aftertaste. I can see this evolving over the long term.
Barrel Sample: 92-94
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.”
Representing some of the darkest, deepest and sturdiest Pinot Noir of Burgundy, Pommard is one of the two villages in Côte de Beaune—along with Volnay—that is recognized for its impressive Pinot Noir. While it can’t boast any Grands Crus vineyards, its extraordinary Premiers Crus vineyards are aplenty.
Les Pézerolles, Les Épenots, Clos des Épeneaux, Les Chanlins, Les Jarolières, Les Fremiers and particularly Les Rugiens are among the most outstanding Premiers Crus.
The best Pommards will be concentrated in flavors such as black cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate, have dazzling aromas of violets, menthol or wild herbs and a firm and powerful finish. They typically demand some time in the bottle to reach their peak.