Pommard AOC 2019

Slightly transparent brick red in the glass. The wine opens fragrantly and floral with violet and rose, along with lightly roasted red and dark berries, above all cassis. Beneath lie a warm forest floor with moss and twigs, a touch of oak, cinnamon, smoke and leather. It has earthy components without becoming heavy: it remains transparent, almost weightless.

Pommard lies between Beaune and Volnay, where the Côte de Beaune makes a gentle curve towards Autun; the appellation was one of the first to receive AOC status in 1936, and only red wine from Pinot Noir is produced there. The village wine comes from around one hectare across four parcels: Croix Planet contributes fullness, the old vines in Les Vaumuriens and Les Vignots provide finesse and structure, and La Vache, at the heart of the appellation, lends minerality. Planting took place in 1947, 1983, 1988 and 1999, at 270 to 362 metres above sea level, on clay-limestone subsoil.

Pinot Noir, hand-harvested, partial destemming, spontaneous fermentation. Ageing lasted twelve to 15 months in pièces and tonneaux, with a new-oak proportion under 10%. 13.0% ABV, dry.

Clearly structured and noticeably more "Pommard" than on the nose. The earthy character shows as a light, intentional note of goût de campagne, above which lie dark, cherry-like notes, again some florality and a minty freshness. The tannin is present and gives the wine firmness.

With sirloin of lamb in a crust of Provençal herbs and butter, with roasted young duck with verbena, chard and cherries, or with strips of fillet and porcini with aged soy sauce from the wok.

Clos du Moulin aux Moines was founded in 962 by monks of the Abbey of Cluny and is among the oldest wine estates in Burgundy. Willy Roulendes has run the domaine in Auxey-Duresses since 2008 and has converted all 16 hectares to biodynamic cultivation; work in the vineyard is done by hand or with a horse. The label states the biodynamic cultivation.