1999 Domaine Comte Armand Pommard Clos des Epeneaux

Pro Reviews

Wine Advocate (WA)

Benjamin Leroux urged me not to depart his cellar so hastily, at least not before trying this unique wine, basically the 1999 Clos des Epeneaux that was bottled with minimum sulfur – a bit of horseplay on Benjamin-s part. It has a wonderful bouquet with undergrowth, Provencal herbs, mint, juniper and sage that swarm upon pouring. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry and instantly builds in the mouth. The acidity is very poised, with hints of kirsch and Moroccan spices furnishing the ebullient, convincing finish. Excellent!

Burghound (BH)

It’s clear that this wine has not budged since I originally reviewed it from bottle in 2004, except perhaps that the nose has closed in on itself somewhat. Wonderfully complex aromas of ripe red and black fruit, crushed herbs and fresh berries with unmistakable earth aromas merge into medium-bodied, powerful, concentrated and vibrant flavors that are firmly structured but not overtly tannic with plenty of underlying material and sappy extract that still buffers the majority of the structure and imparts a velvety character to the precise, minerally and admirably persistent finish. This is an extremely impressive effort that just needs time to soften and broaden as it remains tight and linear.