Domaine de Courcel Pommard Les Vaumuriens 2016

Poof! That is the sound of our collective minds being blown when we wrestled this tiny parcel loose from one of the top Burgundy importers in the county at this fine, fine price. Pristine provenance for this picture-perfect parcel of Pommard.

Just a few cases, guys! This is one insanely complex and concentrated Pommard, and extremely rare to see in our warehouse...we hope you land a few! Just 190 cases were made of blockbuster.

Domaine de Courcel is known for rich, tannic wines that require long aging. However, we find that the 2016 is surprisingly soft, open, and opulent at this early stage in its life. Since 1996, they have been made by winemaking legend, Yves Confuron, who somehow manages to find time to run his estate in Vosne Romanée as well.

The estate comprises Pommard’s finest vineyards, the 1ers crus Croix Noires, Fremiers, Grand Clos des Epenots (monopole) and Rugiens. In fact, the wineries parcel of Vaumuriens looks down on their 1er cru Rugiens, one of the top 1er cru sites in all of Pommard. Its high elevation and limestone-littered soils give this wine a distinctive and regal personality. Picking is always far later than other estates, and there is very long slow fermentation of whole bunches, with lots of punching down, and extended maturation in cask. This wine is full of power!

What was your family doing 400 years ago? Courcel was planting pinot in what was to become many of the premier crus, and as noted, are wines of great power, structure and ageability. We have exactly 15 CASES! First come, first served…!

PAIRING IDEAS: If you drink this sooner than later, decant it and whip up a long-simmering batch of cassoulet – sausage, chicken, duck confit, you have a lot of choices, but not with the basic preparation.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: Belle and Sebastian, the Scottish indie pop band, has a new single out - "Young and Stupid". Check it out!