POMMARD

2009 1er Cru Rugiens Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot

Grapes Pinot Noir
Colour Red
Origin France, Burgundy
District Côte d'Or
Sub-district Côte de Beaune
Village Pommard
Classification 1er Cru
ABV 13.5%
Vineyard Rugiens

Very dark. Very big, with deep colour and a massive look and feel in the glass. Oaky nose and entry, black fruit but still with lift. Not as massive on the palate as it appeared visually, with the brightness as well as the depth of flavour of ripe hedgerow blackberries. Intense, with some of the tannic density one expects in Rugiens (this is Rugiens du bas, lower on the slope and with a mixed soil, not all 'terre blanche). Very nicely balanced, and this will not disappoint - in fact it may well pleasantly surprise, if earlier vintages are anything to go by. L&S (Jan 2011)


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Here too there is a deft touch of wood that sets off very ripe mocha and cassis-infused aromas that lead to mineral-inflected, precise and quite firm medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent depth and length. This will need at least a decade in the cellar and perhaps more but it should be more than worth the wait. 2019+ Rating: 91-93 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (May 2011)

The Rugiens has very good definition on the nose with raspberry, wild strawberry and tangible mineralité. Vigorous and pleasing. The palate is well balanced with a supple, fruit-driven entry with raspberry, spicy and a touch of soy. Good weight on the finish but just lacking a touch of tension. Very fine. Rating: 89 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2011)

Sweet charming raspberry nose. Medium-bodied, fresh, and lively, with light tannins, resulting in charm rather than weight though there's no lack of structure or length. Drink 2013-2020. Rating: ****17 Stephen Brook, Decanter.com (Feb 2011)

Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot

The origins of the Pillot family in Chassagne can be traced back to the eighteenth century, when they seem to have been coopers more than vignerons. In the nineteenth century they abandoned barrel-making in favour of enlarging the property in Chassagne. Fernand and Laurent, who is the fourth generation, added to it again in 1992, and then in 2001 Laurent's wife Marie-Anne inherited half of her family's property, the Pommard domaine of Pothier-Rieusset, and Laurent and his father bought the other half. The domaine now stands at 14.5 hectares of vines across almost the whole length of the Côte de Beaune from Santenay to Beaune.

The Domaine is worked according to organic principles and are ploughed – no chemical weedkillers are used. They have also been members of the Dephy-ECO-phyto group, which works to reduce the number of treatments using copper sulphate, since 2012. In 2021 they began the process of organic certification.

Laurent has always managed to pack in a lot alongside his running of the vineyard. He has his own plane which he flies to all corners of France, used keep and hunts hawks, and conducts the Chassagne brass band as well as dabbling in Mayoral duties - on top of being a father of three, Anaïs, Adrien and Eugène. They are all mad about the alps and disappear up the mountains at regular intervals.

Laurent's eldest son Adrien has been travelling the world making wine all over the place for the last few years having completed his training in Beaune. Bringing back lessons learnt in Australia, South Africa and California (and from a stint at Lea & Sandeman), During harvest Adrien is now the one in the winery while Laurent takes charge of the picking team. The wines have long been L&S favourites in both red and white - they represent excellent value, and they age very well too, despite being attractive young. The whites are precise and pure, and not lacking for body and generosity, while the reds are velvety and juicy, beautifully balanced even if drunk young on their expressive Pinot fruit. The domaine was rightfully heralded in Decanter Magazine as 'an address that deserves to be better-known'. Great value and real pleasure across their range.

Read more about Adrien here in this recent Forbes article here.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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