Comte Armand Cellar Visit and Tasting

Pommard
Tasted Monday, July 1, 2019 by Burgundy Al with 151 views

Introduction

Visit and tasting with Paul Zinetti.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 2018 Comte Armand Auxey-Duresses Rouge

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses

    Barrel tasting at the domaine. Red and black cherry throughout, comes across as ripe but very balanced and already enjoyable. Rich finish. Very good for its level. For fun, we also tasted the press wine (1 barrel to be mostly/ entirely blending in with the other 5 barrels), which had largely the same profile, with more assertive tannins, but still shockingly bright. Overall 88-89 point potential.

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  • 2018 Comte Armand Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Rouge

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru

    Barrel tasting at the domaine. From les Bréterins (60%) and Bas des Duresses (40%) harvested and fermented together. Dense black cherry with firm structure that will require cellar time, but very good length and and power that will reward that patience. We tasted this from a new oak barrel, so I will disregard the prevailing oaky, vanilla notes that will get assembled away. 90-91 point potential.

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  • 2018 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

    Barrel tasting at the domaine. We tasted each of the four blocks separately, then an assemblage of the four together.

    Assemblage had new oak from 1 of the 4 blocks, when the final assembly will have 30-35% new oak.All black fruit with roasted meat and impressive density with a brawny character, yet also clearly balanced. Persistent and long finish with brightening mineral textures, somehow nearly accessible already. This clocks in at close to 14% alcohol, but that is barely perceptible at all. 93-95 point potential.

    Block 2 (35 yo vines, little topsoil): Jammy black cherry comes across as very dense, but also simple.

    Block 1 (55-60 yo vines with very low yields): Bright combination of red and black cherry with lots of pure fruit and near elegance, even if showing the least weight right now. This parcel is particularly better in 2018 vs 2017. Cold maceration brought out a richness in the fruit in 2018, according to Paul.

    Block 3 (75-85 yo vines): An intense concentration with broad array of black fruit aromas and flavors that just seemed to get bigger and bigger, yet also balanced and near charming. Lots of tannins that stay in the very near background. On its own, my favorite of the four parcels in 2018.

    Block 4 (85-100 yo vines): Clearly the most intense and concentrated with grilled meat and a brooding finish that is presently masking any nuance or complexity. Exceptional density.

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  • 2018 Comte Armand Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

    Barrel tasting at the domaine. As much black as red fruit with spice hints, less floral notes than typical. Bit backward and compact, especially on finish. 88-90 point potential.

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  • 2017 Comte Armand Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Rouge 88 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru

    Tasted at the domaine. Bottled in March. Bright red fruit throughout with lighter style coming across as balanced and elegant with good enough weight, some firmness on finish. Very much in the style of the better and accessible 2017s.

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  • 2017 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

    Tasted at the domaine. Bottled in March. Black cherry, grilled meat, fresh herbs and toasted spice. Big start, more austere middle, then a good+ finish with sneaky structure and good length. I liked this slightly more from barrel a year ago, but still like it today, 90-91 point potential, better 2024 forward.

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  • 1998 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

    Tasted at the domaine. Served blind, I thought this younger from a moderately ripe vintage given that it came across as a big of a tannic beast needing lots more time. Others enjoyed it more than I did.

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