Winemaker Notes
From a 0.62 acre vineyard whose vines date from 1959. This parcel is located entirely in Rugiens en bas, south of Pommard.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The most introverted, muscular wine in the range is predictably the 2019 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens, a promising cuvée that opens in the glass with notes of cassis, plums, sweet spices, caramelized orange rind and peonies. Medium to full-bodied, broad-shouldered and youthfully reserved, it's built around succulent acids and powdery tannins, concluding with a long finish.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Jasper Morris
Medium deep red-crimson. A certain fruit on the nose but it is not leaping out. There is a welcome depth of fruit on the palate too, more red than black, very enjoyable but does it have the extra that Rugiens should deliver over the other 1ers crus in the range? Useful acidity.
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.