Comte Armand – Pommard
Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard has been under the ownership of the same family in an unbroken line since before the French revolution, an extreme rarity in Burgundy. Until 1994 the domaine owned only one vineyard, their famous 13-acre Monopole Clos des Epeneaux – an outstanding 1er Cru in Pommard. The current Comte Armand – Vicomte Gabriel Armand, is a Parisian lawyer who has continued the family tradition of relying on resident-managers, or regisseurs, to conduct all of the domaine’s affairs.
In 1999 they handed the keys to 23 year-old Benjamin Leroux, a promising local winemaking prodigy who has risen to earn a reputation among the world’s best. Ben completed the transition to Biodynamic farming for the estate, and has continued to add vineyards as well. They now hold over 25 acres in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Auxey-Duresses, but the jewel remains the magnificent Clos des Epeneaux.
The Clos des Epeneaux is a walled-in section of the Pommard 1er Cru Epenots that has consistently produced one of the finest reds on the Côte de Beaune. A wine built for the ages, it normally requires a minimum of 10 years in the bottle to show what it’s made of, and in better years will easily age for 50+ years. Benjamin Leroux continues at the helm of Comte Armand in addition to producing wines under his own label, which he launched in the 2007 vintage.
The 2009s from Comte Armand are now in stock. ORDER HERE
Click each wine for more details or go directly to our online ordering form
Also available in our tasting room, and for shipment to Oregon & Washington addresses.
2009 Volnay $72 >>
(vinified with 15% whole clusters). An elegant and ripe yet airy nose of red pinot and plum aromas liberally laced with earth notes leads to fine and lacy middle weight flavors that exude a discreet minerality on the persistent finish. This is a fine villages crafted in the classic image of Volnay. (89-91)/2016+
2009 Volnay, Fremiets 1er $130 >>
(vinified with about 12% whole clusters). Cool and very fresh aromas of red berry, stone and floral hints give way to vibrant, intense, detailed and mildly austere middle weight flavors that are shaped by phenolically ripe and quite fine tannins. The length is impressive and this is a classic Frémiets of finesse and minerality. (90-93)/2019+
2009 Pommard 1er $110 >>
An impressively layered and ripe nose of spiced plum, warm earth and cassis merges into velvety middle weight flavors that are supported by firm tannins and ample amounts of dry extract that coat the mouth on the balanced, long and harmonious finish. This is a delicious yet quite serious effort that will require up to a decade of cellar time to reach its peak. (90-92)/2017+
2009 Pommard, Clos des Epeneaux $165 >>
(the vine ages in this 5+ ha vineyard run from 18 to 75+ years of age. The 2009 Clos des Epeneaux is segregated into several different cuvées based on vineyard location and will then be blended in varying proportions. The tasting note that follows is based upon a sample that should reasonably resemble the final blend). This is also very fresh and bright with pure aromas of ripe red currant, warm earth, violets and subtle spice hints that are in keeping with the energetic, intense and admirably rich full-bodied flavors that envelope the palate with velvety sap on the beautifully balanced and impressively persistent finish. I very much like the sense of underlying tension because despite this being a big wine with plenty of concentration, the balance is impeccable and there is absolutely nothing ponderous about this complete effort that is well-structured but not so much so that it is in the “buy and forget” category. In short, buy it. (92-95)/2021+
2008 Auxey-Duresses Rouge 1er $50 >>
2008 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru: (a blend of two 1ers, the older vines Les Bréterins and Bas de Duresses – the vines run from 35 to 75 years of age). Fine and rich middle weight flavors that are supported by firm but not rustic tannins and an austere and linear finish. (87-89)/2015+
2008 Volnay, Fremiets 1er $89 >>
2008 Volnay Fremiets 1er Cru: Not surprisingly, this offers a huge step up in aromatic elegance and refinement with a classic cool and airy red pinot nose that also displays violet and plum as well as wet stone notes where the minerality also characterizes the lacy, delicate and precise medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a linear and persistent finish. Lovely. (89-91)/2015+
2008 Pommard, Clos des Epeneaux 1er $115 >>
2008 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 1er Cru: (the vine ages in this 5+ ha vineyard run from 18 to 75+ years of age.) The 2007 Clos des Epeneaux is segregated into 3 different cuvées based on vineyard location and will then be blended in varying proportions. The tasting note that follows is based upon a sample that should reasonably resemble the final blend). Extremely subtle wood frames more complex and more densely fruited earthy and fresh red pinot, plum and currant aromas that slide gracefully into detailed, intense and big-bodied flavors that possess plenty of dry extract which does its job of buffering the firm tannic spine on the detailed, balanced and strikingly long finish. This appears to have excellent aging potential. (90-93)/2020+
