Domaine de Montille Pommard Les Rugiens Premier Cru 2005
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Parker
Robert
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The appelation "Les Rugiens" is special. It is composed of two parts: "Les Rugiens Hauts" and "Les Rugiens-Bas". The bottom and best part, "Les Rugiens-Bas", produces exceptional quality. It is a Premier Cru that has the touch and the wherewithall of a Grand Cru.
Composed of 5.83 hectares, it takes its name from its red-colored clay that contains iron oxide. Domaine de Montille is the largest owner of "Les Rugiens-Bas" with two parcels that together have a surface area of 1.02 hectares.
Amongst other factors, the quality of the clay and the presence of iron gives to this cru an incomparable power and a distinctiveness in the Côte de Beaune. Powerful, elegant and complete, this wine expresses an additional dimension between all of its components, including complexity, profoundness and longevity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Pommard Rugiens delivers aromas of spice-tinged black cherry and raspberry with floral overtones. In the mouth this boasts a wonderful combination of creaminess of texture and chocolate low-toned richness, yet with energy and brightness of sweet fruit that carries in to a voluminous, luminous, savory, salty, meaty, chalky, resinous finish. The tannins are so fine and the mineral-carnal-floral layering with the fruit so clear that I am once again put more in mind of Volnay than Pommard.
Range: 93-94
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.