Domaine François Gaunoux - Pommard 1er Cru - Les Grands Epenots - Rouge - 2020

Wine:

In our glasses, the 2020 red Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Epenots already expresses all the elegance of pinot noir, with this noble, fresh and infused nose of great purity. The palate is astonishing and young, it is dominated by its minerality, bright flavors of morello cherries, the framework of a pinot fine in tannins, sparkling and precise. The absence of wood may be disconcerting, but in any case it erases any heaviness, offering today the most refined and refined aspect of a Pommard premier cru. In such a vintage, the estate assures - we take its word for it - a thirty-year aging capacity! Rated 93-95/100.

Color:

Bright ruby red, of good intensity, with carmine reflections.

Temperature:

Serve between 16 and 18°C.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2050.

Claudine Gaunoux, owner of the namesake François Gaunoux estate, is an unparalleled winemaker, defining herself as a "vineyard-going winemaker".

The Burgundian estate, not widely featured in guides, remains somewhat of a hidden gem, yet its wines grace the tables of France's most prestigious Michelin-starred establishments, including those of Yannick Alléno, Cheval Blanc, and the Parisian chef Guy Savoy, whose restaurant was recently crowned once again as the world's best. Claudine, along with her husband Jean-Pierre, oversees twelve hectares spanning the villages of Beaune, Meursault, Volnay, and Pommard. Their vineyards include some of the finest terroirs and boast monopoly plots in Meursault, such as Clos de Tavaux and Clos des Meix Chavaux. Not to be overlooked is their renowned first growth, La Goutte d’Or.

The ethos of the estate is crystal clear: to showcase these famed Côte d’Or terroirs in their purest form, meaning without the influence of oak barrels—a rarity in Burgundy. This unique approach caught our attention, and in a blind tasting, our World Champion sommelier, Olivier Poussier, was equally stunned by the freshness and purity of a 2009 vintage. As they age, the wines develop a rich patina, without the interference of tannins from oak, prompting contemplation about the art of wine aging. To taste their wines is a singular experience for any aficionado; few such esteemed vintages provide such an unadulterated reflection of their appellation.