1998 Comte Armand Pommard Clos des Epeneaux

Comte Armand Le Domaine des Epeneaux is the full name of a 25-acre domaine in Pommard, in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune. The domaine is highly unusual in that until 1994 it had only one wine, which is the prestigious Premier Cru Clos des Epeneaux. The clos is a 13-acre monopole. But in 1994 the domaine, which has been owned by the Armand family since the 18th century, expanded to include Premier Cru and village parcels in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Auxey-Duresses. The current head of the family is a Parisian lawyer who has given the winemaking duties to Benjamin Leroux. The estate is biodynamic and is still primarily known for its Clos des Epeneaux.

Clos des Epeneaux is a 12.5-acre Premier Cru vineyard in Pommard, in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune. It is in the central part of the Pommard appellation, to the east of the village, and it is a monopole of Comte Armand. Clive Coates has written that “the monopoly of the Comte Armand today produces some of the best wines in Burgundy.” Because Pommard has no Grand Crus, its Premier Crus are especially noteworthy. Pommard is an appellation of red wine only.

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.