2014 Pommard Les Rugiens
Buying options
Tasting notes
(vinified with one-third whole clusters; 40% new oak): Medium red. More medicinal on the nose than the Volnay Taillepieds, offering fresh scents of black cherry, licorice and menthol. Plush and thick yet fresh and light on its feet, offering excellent intensity and considerable charm to its flavors of dark cherry and earth over a firm mineral underpinning. Sweet, aromatic and long on material. The moderate use of stems here has preserved this wine's essential suppleness.
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
(vinified with one-third whole clusters and aged in 40% new oak): Deep, bright red. Captivating nose melds raspberry, medicinal black cherry, dried flowers, a subtle pepper note and hints of iron and earth. Firmly built and sharply delineated, offering an attractive balance of cherry and black raspberry fruit with peppery herbs and spices. Finishes with a firm tannic spine. This very promising wine only finished its malolactic fermentation in September.
The 2014 Pommard 1er Cru les Rugiens includes one-third whole cluster fruit and 40% new oak. It has more red fruit than the 2014 Les Pezerolles with wild strawberry and Morelle cherry coming through, lending more ripeness and a touch more fruité. The palate is well balanced with a pleasing fleshiness and grip, very well focused and gaining density and structure towards the finish. The Rugiens terroir shows through beautifully here -- one of de Montille's best 2014s.
Hailed, so quantities down and tannins a little obvious – they made 10 barrels from 1.1 ha (22 or 23 hl/ha) – and 'the tannins need time to heal'. One-third whole bunch. Deep crimson. Very sweet start. Lots of texture. Those tannins are pretty pinched on the finish. (JR)
About the producer
Volnay’s Domaine de Montille is one of the most historic in the Côte d’Or. Founded in 1730, the property remains family-owned and run, with Etienne de Montille – the ninth generation – at the helm today.