Pommard 1er Cru Clos De La Commaraine Jadot Louis, 2017

Louis Jadot’s Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine 2017 is a refined expression of one of Pommard’s most historic Premier Cru vineyards. Crafted from 100% Pinot Noir, it marries the appellation’s classic structure with the elegance and balance of the 2017 vintage. This wine stands out for its combination of power and finesse, offering a more polished, accessible style of Pommard without losing its depth or age‑worthy character. Clos de la Commaraine is a walled Premier Cru monopole with a long-standing reputation for producing wines of notable intensity and complexity. Under Louis Jadot’s stewardship, traditional Burgundian winemaking and meticulous vineyard work highlight the individuality of this site. The result is a wine that captures both the historical significance of Pommard and the precision of modern craftsmanship.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2017 Pommard 1er Cru Clos de la Commaraine presents a deep, luminous ruby color with garnet reflections toward the rim. The nose is finely layered and expressive: ripe red cherries, wild strawberries, and blackberries are supported by violet, rose petal, and subtle forest floor. Delicate notes of spice—clove, nutmeg, and a touch of vanilla—meld with hints of cocoa and finely integrated oak. On the palate, this Premier Cru is medium to full-bodied, with a firm yet refined tannic backbone typical of Pommard, softened by the natural charm and approachability of the 2017 vintage. Flavors of red and black cherry, raspberry, and cranberry are interwoven with savory undertones of dried herbs, mushroom, and a mineral edge that brings lift and precision. The acidity is fresh and well-judged, giving the wine energy and length, while the oak is seamlessly integrated, adding texture rather than weight. Drinking beautifully now with some aeration, this wine also has solid aging potential; it should evolve gracefully over 8–12 years from vintage, developing more tertiary notes of truffle, leather, and sous-bois with time in the cellar.

Production
Clos de la Commaraine is a historic, enclosed Premier Cru vineyard in Pommard, planted on classic Burgundian clay-limestone soils with good drainage and a favorable south to southeast exposure. These conditions encourage optimal ripening of Pinot Noir while preserving freshness and aromatic precision. Louis Jadot works with careful vineyard management—controlled yields, green harvesting when needed, and hand-picking at optimal maturity—to ensure pristine fruit selection. Grapes are sorted on arrival at the winery, then traditionally vinified with a balance of de-stemming and whole berries, followed by a cool maceration and temperature‑controlled fermentation to extract fine tannins and aromatic complexity. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels, a proportion of which are new, for around 15–18 months, allowing it to gain structure, spice, and polish without overshadowing the character of the terroir.

Food & Serving
This Pommard 1er Cru is an excellent partner for refined yet flavorful dishes. It pairs beautifully with roasted duck breast, herb-crusted lamb, coquelet, veal chops, and game birds such as pheasant or partridge. It is equally compelling with mushroom-based dishes—wild mushroom risotto, truffle-infused poultry, or roasted root vegetables—and with semi-hard cheeses like Comté, aged Gruyère, or Tomme. Serve at 15–17°C (59–63°F) to highlight its aromatic complexity and texture. For current drinking, decanting for 30–60 minutes is recommended to allow the wine to open fully; more mature bottles should be decanted gently just before serving to separate any sediment while preserving delicate tertiary aromas.

Producer
Maison Louis Jadot, founded in 1859, is one of Burgundy’s most respected and widely recognized producers, known for its dedication to expressing the individuality of each vineyard site. Over generations, Jadot has built a deep presence across the Côte d’Or, with an important footprint in prestigious appellations such as Pommard, Beaune, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Puligny-Montrachet. The house philosophy emphasizes respect for terroir, combining traditional Burgundian methods with modern precision in both vineyard and cellar. Jadot’s stewardship of renowned crus like Clos de la Commaraine has helped cement its reputation as a benchmark for quality and consistency in Burgundy, with wines that are prized by collectors and enthusiasts around the world.