Description
Pommard 1er Cru “Grand clos des Epenots” Domaine Courcel 2016
Domaine de Courcel, Pommard
“If you like the serious built-to-age old school style, this is one of the very best addresses around.” Allen Meadows, Burghound.com April 2012
Created at the beginning of the 16th century, this 10 hectares domaine is planted exclusively in the village of Pommard. Since 1996, the winemaking has been carried out by Yves Confuron (of Domaine Confuron-Cotétidot in Vosne Romanée) and the wines have definitely stepped up a gear in quality. It is the combination of old vines, great plots, low yields and a restrained use of new oak, which make Domaine de Courcel Pommards the truly exceptional wines they are today.
The vineyard is essentially composed of prestigious Premiers Crus holdings. As such, the domaine is one of the largest owners of Pommard Premier Crus, comprising Le Grand Clos des Epenots, Les Rugiens, Les Frémiers and Les Croix Noires. Total production averages 30,000 bottles per annum.
Viticultural work combines both traditional and modern methods, as does the winemaking and ageing. The techniques used respect both the terroirs and the environment. The soil is ploughed to favour intense biological activity, which enables the vines to better assimilate the minerals of the soil. The ploughing also helps the root of the vine penetrate deeper into the soil and bedrock for a better expression of the terroir. Cold maceration followed by low-temperature fermentation enables a judicious extraction of the aromas of the wine. Maturation is carried out in carefully selected oak barrels, which are replaced by one third each year, for a period of 21 to 23 months. After racking, the wines are bottled without any fining or filtration.
The plot of 4.89 hectares of land is located north of Pommard, at the start of the slope and is east facing. The soil, which is rich in clay and limestone, is brown and strewn with limestone rocks. The depth of the soil is around 40-60cm and its structure acts as a natural filter.
A big notch up in power from the Vaumariens, with great intensity and drive. This is relatively dense and dark. Brooding black and blue fruits give way to hints of dark cherry and damson. Intense, really sexy. Great flow with no hard edges and ripe and rich tannins.
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
