2015 Pommard Grands Epenots

Deep ruby-red color. Darker and more brooding on the nose than the Frémiers, offering aromas of blackberry, kirsch and licorice complicated by subtle suggestions of spices, flowers and minerals. A step up in concentration on the palate too, but with an element of saline minerality giving the wine a light touch. A bit more delineated than the Rugiens; in fact today this wine makes the Rugiens seem almost monolithic by comparison. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins and lovely mounting lift. For all its intensity, this wine gives a weightless impression--and really calls for food. This lovely Pommard has a long life ahead of it.

Cask sample. Medicinal, iodine type of nose. Very firm and powerful – lots of tannin and primary fruit and exotic oak spice. Retains a silkiness despite the weight and substance. Potent, strong, lengthy. (RH)

Full ruby-red. Very pure, penetrating aromas of cassis, blackberry and minerals are totally ripe but fresh. Conveys terrific energy and precision, with its dark fruit flavors complicated by suggestions of red soil. With its light touch and refined tannins, this very long wine has the class of a top Côte de Nuits in 2015. (Confuron opened a bottle of the 2010 to demonstrate how the 2015 might evolve. While the earlier vintage showed terrific energy and inner-mouth tension, the 2015 is richer and its tannins are riper, suggesting that it will ultimately surpass the '10. A bottle of the 2007 showed hints of amber, with redcurrant, truffle and spice aromas and flavors evolving nicely. This nicely balanced wine finishes with slightly dusty tannins. Confuron noted that only the late pickers really got their fruit ripe in 2007.)