Winemaker Notes
Pezerolles is often thought of as an outlier because it is the most finesseful of the Pommard 1er Crus. Even though it sits on the other side of the village from Volnay, it's floral, delicate, and graceful profile is often described as being Volnay-esque.
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
One of my favourite Pommards of the vintage, this is a focussed, mineral, chalky premier cru red that wouldn't look out of place in the upper slopes of Volnay. Crunchy, refined and beautifully balanced, it gains added complexity from one-third whole clusters and 30% new wood.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Domaine de Montille Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles shows outstanding persistence and charm. TASTING NOTES: This wine flourishes with tremendous density. Enjoy its impressive aromas and flavors of black fruit, earth and savory spices with a juicy, grilled ribeye. (Tasted: October 28, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
-
James Suckling
Rich and elegant with quite chalky character and crisp acidity, the finish really long and fine-grained. Drink from 2021.
Barrel Sample: 92-93 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Bursting from the glass with aromas of strawberries, raspberries and red plums that are framed by a subtle touch of oak, de Montille's 2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pezerolles is also open and expressive, with an ample core of fruit framed by supple tannins and juicy acids. This isn't quite as deep or concentrated as the Volnay Taillepieds, but it's similarly charming.
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.