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Domaine de Courcel Pommard Les Rugiens 1er Cru(2004)
- Winery:
- Domaine de Courcel
- Varietal:
- Pinot Noir
- Region:
- France > Burgundy > Côte de Beaune > Pommard
- Type:
- Red Wine
- User Tags:
- fruit, serve chilled, classic, fine, round, usual, hay, woody, phenolic, yield
- Burghound
- Issue 22, Apr 01, 2006
-
May 2008
- Yves Confuron said that he did not begin picking until October 1st because the hail slowed down maturities substantially. Even though we obtained very good sugar of on average 13.5% and chaptalized nothing, the phenolics weren't as ripe as the sugars. We very carefully sorted but interestingly, at least here at the domaine, the effects of the hail aren't in the flavors, they're in the tannins. Between the hail and sorting, we realized yields of only 24 to 25 hl/ha. And because we harvested late, I was able to use the stems as usual, destemming anywhere from none at all to as much as read more...50%. The malos were slow to start and slow to finish, indeed the Rugiens and Epenots still aren't finished. For me, 2004 is an exceptionally classic vintage and at this point, more interesting than 2005. It's a mix of '98 and '99 with the tannins of the former and the fruit and maturity of the latter. As such, I will probably fine to round off the tannins somewhat and then bottle the wines in either June or July. As Confuron notes, the late malos rendered the wines difficult to taste and the in case of the Rugiens and Epenots, they were frankly impossible to accurately judge though none of these '04s was easy in this regard because of either gas or reduction. In fact, the de Courcel wines are always difficult to judge because the cellars are ice cold coupled with a policy of an extended élevage. To this end, it explains why I under estimated the quality of the '03 Epenots and Rugiens so I want to also call your attention to the superb performance of these two wines. (Diageo Château and Estate Wine, NY, NY; O.W. Loeb, Lea & Sandeman, H. & H. Bancroft and Howard Ripley Wines, all UK). Note: from Rugiens-Hauts Like the Epenots, this was very heavily reduced though here it's a bit more obvious that the flavors possess good richness and lovely detail but I will defer judgment until next year. Not rated. (hide)
- Burghound
- Issue 26, Apr 01, 2007
- 90/100
-
May 2008
- Yves Confuron said that he did not begin picking until October 1st because the hail slowed down maturities substantially. Even though we obtained very good sugar of on average 13.5% and chaptalized nothing, the phenolics weren't as ripe as the sugars. We very carefully sorted but interestingly, at least here at the domaine, the effects of the hail aren't in the flavors, they're in the tannins. Between the hail and sorting, we realized yields of only 24 to 25 hl/ha. And because we harvested late, I was able to use the stems as usual, destemming anywhere from none at all to as much as read more...50%. The malos were slow to start and slow to finish, indeed the Rugiens and Epenots still aren't finished. For me, 2004 is an exceptionally classic vintage and at this point, more interesting than 2005. It's a mix of '98 and '99 with the tannins of the former and the fruit and maturity of the latter. As such, I will probably fine to round off the tannins somewhat and then bottle the wines in either June or July. As Confuron notes, the late malos rendered the wines difficult to taste and the in case of the Rugiens and Epenots, they were frankly impossible to accurately judge though none of these '04s was easy in this regard because of either gas or reduction. In fact, the de Courcel wines are always difficult to judge because the cellars are ice cold coupled with a policy of an extended élevage. To this end, it explains why I under estimated the quality of the '03 Epenots and Rugiens so I want to also call your attention to the superb performance of these two wines. (Diageo Château and Estate Wine, NY, NY; O.W. Loeb, Lea & Sandeman, H. & H. Bancroft and Howard Ripley Wines, all UK). Note: from Rugiens-Hauts The additional altitude and the moderate loss of maturity from the hail damage is revealed here though only because it followed two stunning wines. There is a hint of vegetal aromas but in the best sense as they add complexity rather than coming across as green or under ripe and ultimately are another source of nuance for the cool red berry fruit nose. While this is certainly reasonably concentrated, the flavors can't match the sheer density of the Epenots though they are focused, rich, intense and admirably long. This should certainly be capable of mid-term aging but I wouldn't be inclined to push it much beyond 7 to 10 years as the finish may start to dry out with extended bottle age. (hide)
