2014 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux

Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, the 2014 Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux from Comte Armand has quite a nuanced nose with dusky red berry fruit, autumn leaves and a touch of stewed black tea. I like the cohesion and focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine line of acidity, nicely balanced and supple in the mouth. There is something easy-drinking and approachable about this Pommard: well crafted and with satisfying tension. While not the greatest in recent vintages, this is still a pleasurable Pommard that overcame the hail that destroyed 90% of the vineyard that year. Tasted September 2017.

(bottled in June of 2016): Dark red. Deep fruit aromas of plum and redcurrant are complicated by leather, game and earth nuances. Surprisingly silky and broad, with its red fruit and smoke flavors joined by a note of milk chocolate. The wine's substantial dusty but ultimately refined tannins currently shorten its finish but there's enough mid-palate density here for this wine to come into balance with bottle aging. Finishes with hints of olive tapenade and milk chocolate. With aeration this wine showed a lovely combination of sweetness and acidity.

Bright crimson. Very sweet fruit and more than a trace of oak but very ambitious and lots of layers here. Lots of crunch. Very clean and dramatic. Fine with a deep undertow. (JR)