2013 POMMARD 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots Domaine de Courcel, Lea & Sandeman

POMMARD

2013 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots Domaine de Courcel

IN STOCK
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 Grand Clos des Épenots

(from an enormous 4.8 ha parcel with vines ranging from 50 to 65 years of age). A deft if not invisible touch of wood sets off the fresh, elegant and pure aromas of airy red berry fruit that exhibit notes of earth, floral nuances and tea. There is impressive concentration to the powerful medium weight flavors that coat the palate with dry extract on the ever-so-slightly edgy finale. This is a hard wine to accurately judge because the mid-palate is opulent and suave, indeed almost thick, yet the finish is edgy. This may very well round out in time but I stress that this is not a certainty. 2025+ Rating: 91? Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Apr 2016)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

Bright medium red. Lovely floral perfume lifts the crunchy fruit aromas of cherry, strawberry and raspberry. A complex vin de terroir, not particularly fat or sweet but with lovely juicy definition and intensity to the complex flavors of redcurrant, minerals, spices, dried rose, earth and celery seed. The fine-grained tannins reach the incisors. Light on its feet considering that production was a freakishly low five hectoliters per hectare due to the hailstorm. Drinking range: 2020 - 2030 Rating: 92 Stephen Tanzer, www.vinousmedia.com (Mar 2016)

(from an enormous 4.8 ha parcel with vines ranging from 50 to 65 years of age). A deft if not invisible touch of wood sets off the fresh, elegant and pure aromas of airy red berry fruit that exhibit notes of earth, floral nuances and tea. There is a touch of wood present on the palate as well though there should be no issue with successfully absorbing it given how dense the medium weight flavors are, which are all wrapped in a mocha-infused finale. This is a very ripe wine in the context of the vintage and should drink well both young and well-aged. 2025+ Rating: 91-93 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Apr 2015)

Rating: 92 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Jan 2015)

Domaine de Courcel

One of the great domaines of Pommard, with a 400 year history in the same family. The domaine produces a small amount of Bourgogne Chardonnay, a completely over-performing Bourgogne Rouge, a village Pommard (Vaumuriens, 1.44 ha), but the biggest part of the domaine consists of four great Premier Cru expressions of the terroir of Pommard, Fremiers (0.79 ha), Croix Noires (0.58 ha), Grand Clos des Epenots (4.89 ha) and Rugiens (1.07 ha). These represent a very different style to the Clos des Épeneaux of Comte Armand, for example. Yves Confuron, the régisseur, describes the difference between the two top wines by saying that the Grand Clos is 'terreux' while the Rugiens is 'aérien'.

The aim is to limit yields to around 25hl/ha, to attain optimum ripeness. The vines are ploughed, and pruned carefully to suit each one, then de-budded in spring and green-harvested in August to keep the fruit load balanced. Following Yves' usual practice the harvest is late and the vatting is long - usually around a month, with a cold maceration leading into a cool fermentation, and a long post-fermentation soak under the protection of the carbon dioxide given off by the fermentation. The wines are developed in barrel over 21 to 23 months, with a third of the barrels being replaced each year. After racking they are bottled without fining or filtration.

The domaine produces wines with astonishing depth and density that still retain the freshness, just like Yves' own wines at Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot. They are classic vins de garde and patience is advised - and will be amply rewarded.

Available In Bond:
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