Pierre Girardin : Pommard 1er cru "Les Grands Epenots" 2020

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Pommard 1er Cru "Les Grands Epenots" 2020 by Pierre Girardin

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a deep, dark ruby red colour, typical of the Pommard appellation.

Nose

The nose unveils a complex and profound bouquet expressing aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and smoked meats. With aeration, notes of black cherry, plum and blackcurrant emerge, accompanied by subtle hints of menthol and spice. Mineral and graphite nuances round out this refined aromatic palette.

Palate

On the palate, this wine seduces with its silky texture and remarkably elegant, polished tannins. It reveals a full, enveloping structure, carried by concentrated dark fruit and a well-balanced acidity that brings freshness and vibrancy. The finish lingers at length, leaving lasting impressions of dark fruit and minerality.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Pommard 1er Cru "Les Grands Epenots" 2020 pairs perfectly with roasted poultry such as duck or goose, as well as feathered game preparations. It also pairs beautifully with braised red meats, rack of lamb and washed-rind cheeses such as Époisses or Langres. Mushroom-based dishes also make for a harmonious pairing.

Serving and Cellaring

This Pommard 1er Cru "Les Grands Epenots" 2020 can be enjoyed now but has the potential to age until around 2045.

An Elegant and Silky Pommard Premier Cru from Pierre Girardin

The Estate

Established in Meursault in 2017, Domaine Pierre Girardin is run by Pierre-Vincent Girardin, a young winemaker representing the thirteenth generation of his family in Burgundy. At just 19 years old at the time of his first vintage, Pierre inherited 4.5 hectares of prestigious plots located in Pommard, Volnay and Meursault from his father Vincent. Today, the estate controls approximately 7.3 hectares and works according to organic and biodynamic principles. Pierre Girardin has quickly established himself as one of the most promising talents in the Côte de Beaune, thanks to his minimalist winemaking philosophy aimed at expressing the purity of Burgundy's terroirs.

The Vineyard

The Pommard 1er Cru "Les Grands Epenots" comes from one of the most prestigious climats of the appellation, located in the northern part of the premier cru zone, near the boundary with Beaune. This vineyard of approximately 25 hectares rests on clay-limestone soils with a predominance of limestone, which lends the wines elegance and finesse. The vines, over 50 years old and planted in these iron-rich soils, benefit from a favourable exposure and a slightly drier subsoil than other Pommard plots, contributing to wines of great delicacy.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy unfolded under relatively balanced conditions, without the extreme heat or climatic mishaps that marked certain recent vintages. This year allowed winemakers to harvest grapes of excellent quality with harmonious ripeness.

Winemaking and Ageing

To craft this Pommard 1er Cru "Les Grands Epenots" 2020, Pierre Girardin carried out a rigorous manual selection of the grapes at harvest. Vinification was carried out using 100% whole clusters, followed by fermentation with indigenous yeasts in a non-interventionist approach. The wine was then aged for approximately 12 months in oak barrels, 50% of which were new, before spending four months in stainless steel tanks for stabilisation. Bottling was carried out without fining or filtration in order to preserve the wine's integrity and natural expression.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir