Domaine de Courcel
2018 Pommard Premier Cru Grand Clos des Épenots
France

“Il sent la cerise noire. D’une grande richesse, sa puissance monte crescendo. C’est un vin musclé mais sans la moindre aspérité grâce à des tanins magnifiquement équilibrés et mûrs. Il fera date.”

“I was skeptical about the potential of de Courcel’s 2018 Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots, but from bottle it’s showing very well. Of course, it’s a rich, powerful beast of a wine that’s typical of the style favored by winemaker Yves Confuron; but despite its tannins’ sheer abundance, the ripeness of the vintage has tempered them into something almost resembling youthful charm. Offering up aromas of blackberries, cassis, rose petals, peonies and kirsch, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and muscular, with a ripe, ample core of fruit and an imposing chassis of powdery tannin that nevertheless doesn’t impose any back-end asperity. This should be unusually approachable young, and evolve along the lines of de Coucel’s successful 2003s. It’s labelled at a mere 13.5%, and perhaps that’s true.”

“This ripe red is highlighted by flavors of plum, blackberry, and fruitcake, with a dense matrix of tannins lending support and accents of chocolate and tobacco gracing the lingering aftertaste. Although this seems to have the structure to age, the ripe fruit suggests enjoying it on the earlier side. Drink now through 2030. 300 cases imported.”