The name Pommard is known the world over and rings out loud and clear. It has done much for the popularity of its red wines, among the most sought-after in Burgundy.
Located between Beaune and Volnay, right in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, Pommard—a charming little town with a square bell tower—boasts a beautiful heritage of historic houses, some of which are Romanesque, while others feature beautiful 17th- and 18th-century architecture, much like its 300-year-old château, which was built in a pure Regency style by Vivant Micault, an advisor to King Louis XV.
With a defined area of 337 hectares and 28 vineyards classified as Premiers Crus, spread across both slopes of a hillside, Pommard was granted its AOC status in 1936. A vineyard landscape shaped by a hill split in two by the Grande Combe, on fairly clay-rich limestone soils. This revered terroir, an earthy cru par excellence, produces exclusively red wines with a deep color derived from its grape variety, Pinot Noir, with aromas of dark berries and red currants, accompanied by hints of cherry pit and ripe plum, evolving into more animalistic and wild notes of leather, musk, and even game.
Pommard wines have a robust structure; they are tannic, full-bodied, and firm in their youth, but can be aged until they round out. Their structure ensures a longevity of between 5 and 20 years. However, as elsewhere, specific vineyard sites can partially alter this profile. Consequently, the style varies between the two leading Premiers Crus. Les Rugiens, located midway up the southern slope, produces full-bodied and dominant wines, especially in the Rugiens-Bas section.
The Epenots, located on the lower part of the northern slope and, in turn, divided into Petits and Grands Epenots, benefit from the shelter provided by the walls of several vineyards, offering ideal conditions for ripening, and their wines are particularly elegant, such as Château de Meursault’s Le Clos des Epenots.
Whether they are Rugiens or Epenots, these two Pommard vineyards produce distinguished wines that possess the unique nobility of the greatest terroirs. They are true contenders for the title of Grand Cru.
If you’re not yet familiar with the charming wine-growing village of Pommard, don’t wait to discover it—and if you have a sweet tooth, you’ll find excellent chocolates there, with various cocoa varieties that pair perfectly with your glass of wine.
