1997 Jean Luc Joillot Pommard Les Petits Epenots

Jean-Luc Joillot is a 36-acre domain in Pommard. Jean-Luc took over the family domaine in 1981 and began acquiring more vineyards. He now has more than 60 parcels in Pommard and 2 in Beaune. Jean-Luc Joillot has Premier Crus in Pommard. Clive Coates has written that “there is a richness and depth here…”

Pommard is a relatively large appellation of 1,655 vineyard acres just a few miles south of Beaune. Though it has no Grands Crus, Pommard’s 28 Premiers Crus are generally well regarded. The appellation produces only red wine, and wine writers often note that despite Pommard’s proximity to both Beaune and Volnay, its wines are very different from the Pinot Noirs produced in neighboring appellations. Robert M. Parker Jr. wrote that “The top Pommards are full-bodied, chunky, muscular, fleshy wines that impress one more for their power and expansive, mouth filling texture than for pure finesse.” The most famous Premiers Crus are Les Epenots and Les Rugiens.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.