Score: 91/100
This Pommard by Beaune producer Bouchard Ainé et Fils is made, like the appellation entails, from 100% Pinot Noir grapes.
Pommard is a Côte de Beaune appellation of Burgundy, named after the small village of Pommard. The viticultural area extends over 313 hectares (770 acres) and is dedicated to making Pinot red wines only. About 125 hectares of vineyard (308 acres) are classified as Premier Cru in Pommard, none as Grand Cru.
This Signature Cuvée called La Charnière is not a Premier Cru, but a careful selection of grapes, fermented in oak vats then matured in wine barrels for 14 to 16 months, with 20% new oak.
Tasting Notes
This Burgundy red comes in a bright red color indeed, quite dark, but still translucent to the core much in a Pinot style, a bright youthful red to the rim.
The nose is pungent, displaying clearly three main well-defined components: spicy, fruity, and oaky.
The dominant aromas are a mix of spicy white pepper, slightly chili-like, blended with sweet spices like nutmeg and clove, and sweeter caramel and vanilla, a touch of wood smokiness, oaky tones.
At this stage, in this wine’s young age, the fruity characters are discrete, more in the background than to the forefront. But they’re certainly here. They are actually aromas of ripe fruits if you smell them carefully enough. Yes, the typical Pinot sour cherry (griotte) is here, but also delicate strawberry jam, even a touch of raisin and dates, dried fig perhaps, certainly dried fruit characters are there in fact. These provide a sense of fruity richness to the dominant and savory-smelling spicy aromatic profile.
Putting the wine in your mouth, and enjoying the palate feel, actually brings out more of the fruit character present in this wine. A fruity acidity brings out the freshness of some sweet raspberry and perhaps subtle blueberry jam notes. Tannins are soft but discrete, a velvety edge we love and expect from Pommard. But the whole feels fresh and relatively light in tannins, yet weighty and ripe for a Burgundy indeed.
Big burst of spices and a wealth of smokiness and caramel oakiness explode on your palate, towards a rather long and layered finish.
Overall
A complete and characterful Pommard wine, featuring concentrated fruitiness and typical Burgundy Pinot Noir spiciness, augmented by a clear fruit ripeness and well-thought oak characters. The whole is pungent and flavorsome, delivering many layers of flavors to keep you exploring and enjoying for a long time, satisfying the curious taster. Everything is delivered with finesse, an elegant fruity personality, and a mineral refreshing acidity.
Enjoy 🙂
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