Domaine de Courcel : Pommard 1er cru "Grand Clos des Epenots" 2011

Domaine de Courcel covers roughly 22 acres of vineyards in the commune of Pommard, in the Cote d'Or of Burgundy. The property has been in the Courcel family since the 16th century and is today owned by Gilles de Courcel and managed by Anne Bommelaer and Marie de Courcel with oenologist Yves Confuron. The Domaine de Courcel property includes prestigious vineyards, including Premier Crus Le Grand Clos des Epenots, Les Rugiens, Les Fremiers, Les Croix Noires and Pommard Villages parcel Les Vaumuriens. The Pommard 1er cru "Grand Clos des Epenots" 2011 of Domaine de Courcel is a 100% Pinot Noir wine made from the 12-acre Le Grand Clos des Epenots Premier Cru parcel on the northern side of Pommard. The soils of this monopole are composed of clay and limestone, with pebbles formed by the erosion of the limestone bedrock. The vines are 60 years old on average. The team at Domaine de Courcel practices traditional viticulture, ploughing the soil in order to encourage biological activity and pruning the vines in a way that allows the fruit to mature properly. Debudding and green pruning is carried out to reduce the yield. Following a thorough selection carried out in the vineyard, the grapes undergo a secondary selection at the winery. After a cold maceration of 10 days, fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature with regular "pigeage" (punch downs) and occasional pumpovers to extract color and tannins. The wines are matured in oak casks, of which one third is new, for a long period, usually between 18 and 24 months. The wines are bottled without being fined or filtered.

The Pommard 1er cru "Grand Clos des Epenots" 2011 of Domaine de Courcel reveals a deep red color in the glass. On the nose, the wine reveals aromas of tangy red cherries, raspberries and cassis, along with hints of spice, lavender and undergrowth. Offering a blend of sweet, saline and juicy red fruit flavors on the palate, this Burgundy Premier Cru exhibits an excellent power and a concentrated, intense, full-bodied mouthfeel. The finish is exceptionally long and balanced, marked by fine-grained tannins.