Located between the villages of Beaune and Volnay, Pommard is a village of over 315 hectares (788 acres) of pinot noir vines and one of the most unique “terroirs” of that district. Located on the hillside, the layout of the land, with the valley cutting through the village from east to west, gives some of the strongest, rustic, red wines to be found in Burgundy. This means the wines can be very full-bodied when young and the best wines have a true potential for long aging. The reason for this is simple - the terroir is composed of clay and small limestone rocks and pebbles which contain iron oxide which makes the soil quite red and the wines robust.

From Making Sense of Burgundy by Matt Kramer (our favorite Burgundy book!):

What can we rightfully expect from Pommard? A wine of longevity, for starters. Although not every Pommard is robust, many of them are structured for long life and demand ten or even fifteen years of age to unfurl. They can be made to mature sooner, but that’s not the distinction of Pommard. Rather, Pommard calls to mind an image of peasant wealth. Where Volnay can make one think of a seventeenth-century Parisian dandy, all frippery and handkerchiefs tucked in the wrist, Pommard is one of those thick-muscled farmers whose wealth is proudly displayed in an ever-mounting pile of manure in the farm courtyard. It is Pinot Noir brut: chewy, concentrated, forthright.

“In 27 years I have never vinified two vintages the same way. The basic principles and work ethic are the same, but I try to challenge myself each time”. François Parent does not look for astringent tannins and over-done concentration. He looks for a slightly different image of Pommard wines - less force and more subtlety, often with aromas of black licorice and violets.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Arvelets 2000 is a well-made wine. The nose is intense, subtle and delicate. The taste, pleasant, full-bodied and suave, offers and beautiful volume and length.

At 28 years of age, Nicolas Rossignol is one of the best examples of the new generation of wine-makers in Burgundy. He makes wine from his personal estate of 4.5 hectares (11.25 acres), and from his fathers 11.5 hectare (29 acre) estate (Rossignol-Jeanniard). The wines go through a long fermentation (4 weeks, during which 1 to 2 weeks of cold pre-fermentation). They are then bottled without fining or filtering. Their wines show impressive color, are dense with excellent body and rich tannins.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Chanlins 2000 that we have selected has a rich nose, with a great black cherry aroma. The taste is fresh and has impressive volume. It is a well-balanced wine with a great length.

This domaine continues to confirm its “savoir-faire” not only in the Côte de Beaune villages of Pommard and Volnay but in Gevrey Chambertin, Nuits Saint Georges and other villages. They have always been one of our favorite producers and the recent vintages just keep getting better. With traditional wine-making practices, Pierre and Louis Boillot work to allow each terroir to express itself. The wines are aged in barrels for long periods - up to 20 months in 20 to 30% new oak. They are then bottled without fining or filtering.

The Pommard 1er Cru Les Frémiers 1999 is a wine for today and tomorrow. The nose is intense with spicy notes as well as fruity aromas. Full-bodied taste, round and fresh with silky tannins.

Founded in 1975, this domaine owns and produces wines from 18 hectares (45 acres) stretching from Chambolle Musigny in the north to Volnay in the south. After the death of Madame Chantal Lescure in 1996, her son, Aymeric Marchand de Gramont took over the winery changing the work ethic to better respect the vines and improve the expression of the different terroirs that make up this impressive winery.

The harvest in manual and grapes are sorted and de-stemmed 100% upon arrival at the winery. Grapes are put in vats with gravity which allows 80% of the grapes to remain intact at the beginning of the wine-making process. A cold fermentation takes place for several days followed by a fermentation in closed vats which lasts anywhere from 13 to 24 days depending on the appellation and the vintage. One month before bottling, wines are racked and bottling takes place after light filtering – some years wines are not filtered for certain vintages.

The Pommard Les Chanlins 2000 has an exceptionally dark color, almost black. The nose is rich with roasted coffee and red and black berries. The taste is full-bodied and velvety, over-flowing with finesse. The length is remarkable for a village wine. The wine is well-made with great balance. The parcel is located next to the 1er cru rugiens.