Exploring the Rich Tasting Notes of 2023 Côte de Beaune: A Focus on Pommard Burgundy

By | 2 February 2025

2023 Burgundy Tasting Notes: Côte de Beaune—Pommard

In her exploration of the 2023 Burgundy vintage, Sarah Marsh MW examines the wines produced in Pommard, highlighting various producers and their harvest practices.

Domaine du Comte Armand

Paul Zinetti’s harvest spanned two weeks, focusing on morning picking. They concluded in Auxey-Duresses at Largillas, where grapes were ripe despite some shriveling.

Zinetti noted an absence of green-harvest, leading to meticulous sorting. With limited cold storage, he employed dry ice during pressing and débourbage. The whites underwent pressing twice to maximize extraction, resulting in juice of notable cleanliness. The whites achieved an alcohol level around 13%, with pH values between 3.2 and 3.3 before malolactic fermentation.

For reds, Zinetti utilized CO2 for pre-fermentation maceration, eliminating unwanted lees through careful drainage and settling, despite spatial constraints. The reds exhibited an alcohol range of 13.5% to 14%, with pH levels up to 3.6. These wines emerged as rich, powerful expressions, suggesting a similarity to 2018, albeit distinctive in character.

Jean-Marc Boillot

Lydie and François Alzingre initiated their early harvest on August 29, alternating between varietals. They reported yields of 50hl/ha for reds and 55hl/ha for whites. The whites underwent whole-bunch pressing and fermentations in barrel with various cultured yeasts, benefiting from bâtonnage over ten months. The 2023 whites drew comparisons to the quality of 2019, while reds managed a juicy yet mature profile reminiscent of 2020.

Domaine De Courcel

Yves Confuron, who oversees this estate along with his Vosne operation, emphasizes that Pommard excelled in this warm vintage through optimal tannin quality. He remarked on the lower yield due to challenging weather conditions, noting significant dehydration of berries.

Confuron focuses on whole-bunch fermentation to facilitate slower processes. These wines are notable for their ripe tannins and structural balance, creating complex profiles that require aging.

Domaine du Pavillon

Part of Bichot’s collection, this estate follows organic practices and underwent rigorous green-harvest and sorting. Technical director Matthieu Mangenot observed a warm character in the reds akin to 2018, while whites displayed comparative concentration to those of 2019.

Overall Quality Assessment

The 2023 vintage in Pommard showcases varied profiles, with producers noting the unique influence of climate on grape ripeness and tannin development. The resulting wines are rich, well-structured, and promise an engaging drinking experience, validating Pommard’s status within the Burgundy region.

For further exploration of the 2023 Burgundy vintage:

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