Under the guidance of Yves Confuron, this estate consistently has been producing the best wines of Pommard for quite a number of years. Like the wines Confuron makes at his home estate Confuron-Cotétidot, these are very great wines. They are topped off by the phenomenal Grand Clos des Épenots and Rugiens.
As at Confuron-Cotétidot, picking was very late. Yields were 23 hl/ha. As usual, the grapes were not destemmed.
2017 Pommard Valmuriens
Only a village wine but located Rugiens on white marl soils, it gives a wine of firm texture, good depth, purity, and length. There is some austerity here, characteristic of the wine when young. (92-94)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Croix Noires
De Courcel’s Pommard-Croix Noires is smoky, intense, deep, pure, and chewy. There are substantial tannins here, suggesting a long aging to maturity. (93-95)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Fremiers
The Pommard-Fremiers is lighter than the Croix Noires with the firmness of Fremiers, dark fruits, finesse for Pommard, and length. (93-95)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots
With violets in the nose and mouth, density, purity, length, and the finesse of this part of Pommard, the Grand Clos des Épenots is mass wrapped in elegance. It is a great wine, the equal or superior of many a fine grand cru. (95-97)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens
As great as the Grand Clos des Épenots is, the Rugiens had just an extra touch. The typical iron, mineral Rugiens nose is unmistakable. In the mouth, the wine shows power, depth, penetration, and force, all wrapped together seamlessly. (95-98)