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
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Jasper Morris
Rich dark purple. There is a wealth of dark berry fruit on the nose, quite impressive, with a breadth of deep almost luxurious dark fruit, with just enough structure in tannins and acidity. A little dark pepper as well. A long finish. Plenty to work with here, but be patient. Drink from 2032-2038.
Barrel Sample: 91-94 -
Wine Spectator
Silky in texture and laced with cherry, floral and spice flavors, this red caresses the palate before leaving accents of fruit, earth and spices on the finish. Balanced and elegant. Best from 2028 through 2043.
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.