Winemaker Notes
Deep, intense, ruby purplish reflections. Smoky aromatic depth, ripe black fruits, and a peppery background note. Deep in taste with a rich succession of fruity and spicy notes. Powerful, ample, and fleshy with mouth-coating tannins. A persistent oak finish. All in all, a beautiful expression of the terroir.
Professional Ratings
-
Jasper Morris
A vivid mid purple. The fruit on the first nose is youthful and backward. Plenty of energy here, a little candied maybe, dark red fruit, good acidity, charm and length. Some Pommard tannins but in harmony with the fruit, and growing. Perhaps just a touch of alcohol at the end, but barely noticeable. Drink from 2028.
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.