Winemaker Notes
A generous wine with good substance and a balanced structure, surrounded by a gourmet and fleshy fruity taste. The nose is spicy, with raspberry and cherry hints, together with a touch of licorice. The mouth is very rich with elegant and velvety tannins, and has a good length.
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
40% whole bunch and about 50% new wood. Very old vines which are still in excellent condition. Glowing imperial crimson purple. There is a gorgeous sense of harmony about this, in a completely different class from those we have tasted so far in the range. The fruit is pitch perfect in ripeness, the tannins are fine-grained and just keep their discreet place, the acidity feels more like a mineral thread. A great wine which can be kept for the long term.
Barrel Sample: 93-96
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.