Pommard

Pommard is one of Burgundy's most famous appellations. Located in the Côte de Beaune and devoted exclusively to Pinot Noir, the village has built its reputation on deep, structured red wines capable of developing for many years in the cellar.

Yet reducing Pommard to a powerful style would overlook much of its identity. Depending on the climat, vineyard position, vintage and producer, the wines can range from dense and firmly tannic to more refined expressions combining precise fruit with remarkable elegance as they age.

The appellation includes 28 Premier Cru climats, with Les Rugiens and Les Épenots among the most renowned. Pommard has no Grand Cru vineyards, however, a useful reminder that the reputation of a Burgundian terroir does not always correspond directly to the highest official classification.

Pommard, a major name in the Côte de Beaune

The village of Pommard lies south of Beaune, between Beaune and Volnay, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune.

The production area is limited to the commune of Pommard itself and covers a little over 300 hectares. The appellation was officially recognised in 1936, although its reputation goes back much further.

Even before the creation of the AOC system, the Pommard name was sufficiently famous to be used improperly for red wines produced far beyond the village. The formal delimitation of the appellation helped protect this identity.

Pommard remains one of the most immediately recognisable names among Burgundy wines.

Pinot Noir, the only grape variety in Pommard

Pommard produces only red wines from Pinot Noir.

On these terroirs, the variety can produce more structured wines than in several neighbouring appellations. Colour is often relatively deep for Pinot Noir, while young wines may show considerable density and firm tannins.

The aromatic profile frequently includes blackberry, blueberry, redcurrant, cherry or plum. With age, more developed notes of leather, spice, woodland or chocolate can emerge.

This evolution partly explains why Pommard has long been associated with age-worthy red wines.

It is nevertheless important not to turn this into an absolute rule. Not every Pommard is massive, and not every bottle requires fifteen years in the cellar. Differences between terroirs are significant enough to produce noticeably different styles within just a few hundred metres.

Why can Pommard wines be so different?

The village lies at the opening of a valley, with slopes whose soils, gradients and exposures vary considerably.

Lower areas contain ancient alluvial deposits, while the slopes feature more clay-limestone soils, marl and stony formations. Iron oxides can also give some soils their characteristic reddish colour.

This diversity is reflected in the wines.

To the south of the village, some terroirs produce Pommard with a broad, firm attack. Further north, other sectors can combine power and length with greater elegance.

It is therefore more accurate to think in terms of different expressions of Pommard rather than a single style applying to the entire appellation.

Village or Premier Cru: how should the appellation be read?

Two main levels appear on labels: Pommard and Pommard Premier Cru.

Village wines can come from different parcels within the commune and already provide a clear expression of the appellation's essential characteristics.

The Premier Cru designation is reserved for 28 precisely delimited climats. In Burgundy, a climat is a vineyard site, or group of plots, historically identified for its particular characteristics.

The name of the climat may also appear on the label.

You may therefore encounter Pommard Premier Cru Les Rugiens, Les Épenots, Les Chaponnières, Les Pézerolles, Les Poutures or Clos des Épeneaux.

Premier Cru does not simply mean greater power. Depending on the climat, it may bring greater depth, finesse, complexity or ageing potential.

Les Rugiens and Les Épenots, two emblematic names

Among Pommard's 28 Premier Crus, Les Rugiens and Les Épenots occupy a particularly important place in the appellation's reputation.

Les Rugiens lies south of the village, in an area where the soils can show a pronounced red colour due to the presence of iron. Its wines are often sought after for their depth and ability to develop with age.

The Épenots sector, north of the village towards Beaune, forms another major group of Premier Cru vineyards.

These two names frequently appear when discussing Pommard's most prestigious terroirs, and their reputation can rival that of many Grand Cru climats elsewhere in Burgundy.

Their official status nevertheless remains unchanged: Pommard is a Village appellation containing Premier Cru climats and no Grand Cru.

This distinction is useful for understanding Burgundy, where historic prestige, the reputation of an individual climat and regulatory classification do not always align perfectly.

Olivier Leflaive in the Infinivin selection

The Infinivin selection makes it possible to explore several levels of the appellation through Olivier Leflaive.

The house is represented by a Village Pommard as well as two Premier Crus: Les Chaponnières and Épenots.

This is particularly interesting because it makes it possible to compare, through the same producer, a Pommard without a Premier Cru designation and two distinct climats.

Les Chaponnières lies in the southern part of the vineyard, while Épenots belongs to the northern sector. The comparison therefore goes beyond the simple Village / Premier Cru hierarchy and highlights the influence of vineyard origin.

Pommard or Volnay: two neighbours that should not be caricatured

Pommard directly borders Volnay to the south.

The traditional comparison between the two appellations is familiar: Pommard is described as powerful and tannic, while Volnay is considered fine and delicate.

This can provide a useful initial reference, but it quickly becomes too simplistic.

Some Pommard wines show considerable elegance and precision, particularly after several years of bottle ageing. Conversely, some Volnay wines can possess significant structure.

The difference depends just as much on climat, producer and vintage as on the appellation name itself.

When choosing between the two, it is therefore more useful to think in terms of texture, structure, maturity and the desired style rather than relying on a fixed opposition between power and finesse.

Should Pommard be aged?

Pommard naturally offers good ageing potential thanks to its structure and the relatively firm tannins often found in young wines.

A young Pommard can show intense fruit and a still-firm texture. A few years in bottle often allow the tannins to soften and the bouquet to develop greater complexity.

Premier Crus and more structured vintages can evolve for considerably longer, sometimes for fifteen years or more depending on the producer and storage conditions.

However, cellaring a Pommard is not an obligation.

A bottle that has already softened with age, or a more approachable vintage, can be perfectly suited to earlier drinking. The main consideration is to avoid opening a cuvée while its tannic structure still dominates the wine.

Producer, climat and vintage therefore remain the best indicators when deciding when to open a bottle.

What should you serve with Pommard?

Pommard's structure allows it to accompany richer dishes than many Pinot Noir wines.

Young, tannic cuvées work particularly well with beef, lamb, duck, game or slow-cooked dishes.

As the wine ages and its tannins become softer while the aromas evolve towards woodland and spice, pairings can become more subtle. Roast poultry, mushrooms or dishes served with reduced meat juices can work particularly well.

Full-flavoured cheeses such as Époisses, Langres or well-aged Comté can also pair successfully with a mature Pommard.

More than power alone, it is ultimately the balance between fruit, tannic structure, depth and evolution that explains Pommard's enduring reputation among Burgundy's great red wines.