DOMAINE COMTE ARMAND Pommard 1er Cru 'Clos des Epeneaux' Monopole 2020 Bottle

Description

Domaine Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux Monopole 2020 is a compelling and classically structured example from one of Pommard’s most storied parcels, marrying dark fruit intensity with an iron edged mineral backbone and refined tannic grip. The colour is a deep ruby with a bright core. The nose opens with black cherry, blackcurrant and damson, lifted by a floral thread of violet and crushed rose petal. With gentle airing the bouquet broadens to reveal undergrowth, damp earth and a savoury note of smoked meat, while subtle graphite and crushed stone hints signal the site’s clay and limestone interplay.

On the palate the wine is medium plus in weight with a dense, layered mid palate and finely grained tannins that give structure and persistence. Primary dark fruit remains central yet is framed by savoury complexity of black olive, cured meat and a discreet soy like reduction. Mid palate development brings a touch of warm spice, clove and a light cocoa bitterness that adds tension and counterpoint to the ripe fruit. There is a palpable mineral seam and a cool iron note that lift the finish and maintain clarity, preventing the wine from becoming heavy despite its concentration.

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy combined warm ripening with pockets of favourable diurnal range, producing wines that show ripe intensity together with freshness where vineyard work was precise. At Clos des Epeneaux this has translated into a Pommard that balances power with finesse, the estate’s meticulous viticulture and restrained élevage allowing site expression to remain central.

Texture is satin like yet firm, the tannins compact and already integrated enough for enjoyment with a little air but clearly built for medium term cellaring. Drink 2028 to 2042, peaking 2032 to 2038. Serve at cellar cool room temperature with roast duck, beef en croute, braised short rib, wild mushroom risotto or mature Comte to mirror the wine’s savoury depth and structural elegance.

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Charles Curtis MW (at Burgundy, 10 Nov 2021)
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050
The final blend of this is superb, including both the energy of the young vines and the density of the old. They deliver a lush, spicy fruit with a strong mineral underpinning, a dense texture, firm but supple tannins and an infinitely rewarding finish. The Clos des Epeneaux is produced from a monopole of 5.23ha located at the juncture of Grands Epenots (20%) and Petits Epenots (80%). The clos is divided by regisseur Paul Zinetti into four main subdivisions by age of vine and underlying soils which are farmed and vinified separately.

VINOUS 92-94 points
Drinking window: 2026 - 2050
The 2020 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 1er Cru was a blend of two instead of four cuvées this year due to the depleted production. It has a precocious bouquet with black cherries, raspberry, menthol and blood orange scents that gather momentum in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, taut and fresh, lightly spiced with hints of allspice and tangy quince. It displays fine composure towards the finish with impressive length. This is a superb Clos des Epeneaux, though will it surpass the 2019? I’m not sure.
Neal Martin. Tasting date: November 2021

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ABOUT DOMAINE COMTE ARMAND
Domaine Comte Armand is a distinguished Burgundy estate based in Pommard, prized for powerful, age worthy Pinot Noir that combines muscular structure with fine delineation of soil and exposure. The domaine sits high on the western edge of the Cote de Beaune, with parcels that include premier cru sites and holdings on limestone and clay soils that give the wines their characteristic grip, depth and mineral persistence.

The property remains family owned and is managed by the current generation of the Comte Armand family, whose long term stewardship has prioritised careful parcel management and measured investment in both vineyard and cellar. Day to day technical direction and commercial strategy are overseen by the estate management team working closely with the winemaking staff to deliver a coherent house style that respects site identity.

Vineyards are worked with precision to favour low vigour and concentrated fruit. Canopy management, yield control and selective hand harvesting are standard practice, with particular attention paid to older vine parcels that provide depth and breeding for complexity. Soil health and site specific programmes guide replanting and clonal choice so that each plot can express its individual character while contributing to the broader assemblage.

Winemaking at Domaine Comte Armand is parcel by parcel and deliberately restrained. Fruit is sorted rigorously and vinified in small lots to retain nuance. Extraction is measured to build tannic architecture without sacrificing aromatic clarity. Elevage typically involves careful barrel ageing in French oak with proportions and toasts tailored by cuvee to add texture and complexity while preserving the fruit profile. The technical team values gentle intervention to allow terroir signals to remain paramount.

Stylistically Comte Armand wines are often described as robust yet refined, showing ripe dark cherry, blackcurrant, spice and an iron like mineral thread, framed by substantial but well integrated tannins. The wines reward patient cellaring and are appreciated by collectors for their capacity to reveal layers of nuance over many years. Through steady family stewardship and disciplined cellar craft Domaine Comte Armand continues to represent a benchmark for powerful, terroir driven Pommard.