Description

A classic example of producers earn their reputation in difficult years. This Guillemard Pommard exceeds the reputation of the vintage to be a lovely wine with spice currants, raisins and choco with damp earth. The palate is dry and focused, there is a malty mid palate and a hint mineral on the finish. It will not be a long term keeper but drinking over the next 5-10 years will not be a problem. I think a duck liver parfait would be nice.

An organic producer in Pommard. The team tend 6 hectare over 18 plots including their ‘monopool’ Derrière Saint-Jean 1er Cru which is a tiny plot of old vines in the same ground as their winery and BnB (next to the pool). The style here is red fruits and assertive tannins. Their wines are beautifully crafted and dry finishing.  Pommard Epenots Premier Cru is the star here for all its power and intensity and mid-palate flesh, with the Pommard Village being mighty impressive with a few years under its belt too.

Burgundy

The classic part of Burgundy known as the Cote D’Or (the slope of gold) is essentially one vineyard that is 60km long and maybe 5km at its widest. From this limestone ridge some of the most complex, long-lived and aromatic wines are produced from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Cistercian monks who owned the land codified the entire region and so each small plot has a name.

Pommard

The muscular wines of the Cote de Beaune. They tend towards Gevrey weight and density but without as much tannin. There are some seriously good Pinots coming out of here.

Pinot Noir

This is the most elusive grape. It is relatively early ripening and extremely sensitive to terroir. Its perfect place on earth is the Cote d’Or in Burgundy. So haunting are great red Burgundy’s charms that growers everywhere try to emulate them. Pinot Noir is not just a one trick pony, it can make great reds, rosé, sparkling and even sweet wines, whites on occasion and I’ve tasted a decent fortified Pinot Noir too.

2011

Hard growing conditions. The whites and reds are balanced but not as concentrated as a great vintage.