Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A velvety wine, with blackberry fruit, a hint of smoke and spice. This is lovely and expressive, with nothing aggressive or hot. This is partly from purchased fruit blended with estate fruit. The vines are in the village-level lieu-dit La Combotte above Rugiens, blended with grapes from the plain on the other side of the village. The fruit is destemmed and gently extracted.
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Jasper Morris
A mix of domaine and negociant fruit, like the Volnay. Their plot is in Combottes and purchases are from Combes Dessous. Dense rich purple colour. The bouquet is excellent, full of fruit but without the heat seen in Volnay. Good acidity, quite tight, the wood offers some influence at the back. Not over intense but a successful and enjoyable Pommard which could use longer elevage.
Barrel Sample: 89-91
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.