2018 Pommard Les Pezerolles

The 2018 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pezerolles amounts to fully three barrels this year—the largest crop since 1999. Whether it's the higher crop or the fact that the grapes were destemmed by hand, the wine is especially elegant this year, bursting with scents of rose petals, red berries, violets and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and succulent palate, displaying only delicate grip on the penetrating finish.

In the middle of the vineyard – just 0.15 ha (0.37 acre) on dolomitic limestone. Destemmed by hand using a sieve-like contraption. 15% new oak on premiers crus. Barrel sample. Darker fruited than the Volnays and Beaune Aigrots but still openly aromatic. Lovely hint of sweet spice. Much firmer and more upright in structure, no lack of fruit, very Pommard but the tannins are polished already, just very upright. A darker and more savoury intensity. Dry and chalky on the finish. Smooth and long. (JH)