Product Information:
A father and son operation Domaine Jean-Marc and Thomas Bouley are considered by many to be one of the rising stars of the Côte de-Beaune. Within the Pommard appellation, which boasts 28 Premier Crus, Les Rugiens stands out as one of the finest. Pommard is often associated to a stereotype of muscularity and power, but the best examples such as Les Rugiens have a more ethereal and weightless profile. This dichotomy is eloquently captured in the words of French poet Victor Hugo, who likened it to "night in combat with day."
The soils in Les Rugiens-Haut (higher elevation) are whiter and shallower than the rich red clays than the rest of the climat, translating to a more ethereal, silky textured Pinot Noir. Its aromas are typically redolent of blackberry, bilberry, or gooseberry, cherry pit and ripe plum. At full maturity, it tends towards leather, chocolate and peppery spices. This wine is exceptional first growth Pommard, coming from the best parcels the region has to offer, and magnified by the talents of Burgundy's rising star producer.
I have said this before but it bears repeating. Thomas Bouley is a first-rate young talent and I predict that you will be hearing a lot more about his wines going forward. - Burghound.
Maker:
Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley is a prestigious winery located in the heart of Burgundy, France, with a long-standing history of winemaking that dates back to the early 14th century. In 1985, Jean-Marc Bouley took over the family winery after his father's passing. Today, the estate spans over 12 hectares and boasts vineyards in Volnay, Pommard, and Beaune. After gaining experience in Oregon and New Zealand's Felton Road, Thomas Bouley, Jean-Marc's son, assumed the winemaking responsibilities in 2006. The estate is renowned for producing wines that exhibit exceptional transparency of terroir, purity, and fruit density, harmonising the traditional Burgundy wine style with the New World wine style.
Philosophy:
The winery follows a philosophy of honouring the terroir by allowing it to express itself fully in the wines. The vineyards are meticulously tended, and the grapes are hand-picked to ensure the highest quality. The winemaking process is gentle and non-intrusive, allowing the wines to convey the unique character of the terroir. Pommard is a renowned wine village located in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, France. The village is known for producing some of the finest Pinot Noir wines in the world.
Crafted from Pinot Noir vines aged between 30 and 70 years old, the 'Les Rugiens' vineyard in the Pommard 1er Cru appellation epitomizes the essence of its terroir. Situated on a chalky-clay soil with rocky substrates in Pommard's middle slope, benefiting from a favourable Southeast exposure. Cultivated sustainably without weedkillers or chemical fertilisers, the grapes are harvested by hand and manually table sorted. Fermentation takes place in open vats for three weeks, the wine undergoes a 20-month ageing process in oak barrels, with 50% new oak, building layers of complexity and structure. Bottled at the Domain. This wine showcases the harmony between vine age, terroir expression, and meticulous winemaking, resulting in a red wine of exceptional depth, minerality, and subtle oak influence—a solid representation of Pommard.
Nose - Plums, Raspberries, Exotic Spices
Scents of plums, raspberries and cherries mingled with vine smoke, blood orange and a subtle hint of exotic spices
Palate - Lively acids, Intense, Bright Red Fruits
Medium to full-bodied, pure and ethereal, it’s fragrant and melting, with a bright core of fruit, lively acids.
Finish - Long Mineral Finish, Melting Tannins, Weightless
Terrific intensity without weight, concluding with a long, mineral finish.
The 2021 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens Hauts is beautiful, soaring from the glass with scents of plums, raspberries and cherries mingled with vine smoke, blood orange and a subtle hint of exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, pure and ethereal, it’s fragrant and melting, with a bright core of fruit, lively acids and terrific intensity without weight, concluding with a long, mineral finish. As I’ve written before, and as its label now makes clear, this cuvée derives from the upper part of Les Rugiens, where the soils are whiter and shallower than the rich red clays that characterize the lower, and historically more prestigious part, of this climat; and that always seems to translate to a more weightless, perfumed profile than the stereotype of muscularity and power associated with this cru might lead one to suggest. - Wine Advocate, 95 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%
