Pommard Clos des Epeneaux, Domaine Comte Armand 2010

**Note: the 5+ ha Clos is composed of approximately 80% Petits Epenots and 20% Grands Epenots; the vine ages run from 18 to 75+ years of age**
An exceptionally fresh combination of high-toned, pure and quite elegant red cherry and raspberry aromas is liberally laced with warm earth and iron nuances. Similarly, there is really lovely purity to the gorgeously well-detailed, intense and muscular medium weight plus flavors that brim with dry extract and a caressing mouth feel before terminating in a mouth coating and explosively long finish. This is relentlessly persistent with outstanding depth on the palate staining finish. A knockout vintage for this wine but it's not one to buy if you intend on drinking it anytime soon.

The 2010 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux could be Leroux's finest so far. It has a convincing, elegant bouquet that at this early juncture bears semblances to the 2008, but ramps up the intensity without compensating on delineation, with subtle notes of spice and balsam coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, candied entry. This is very pure, soft and caressing in the mouth but around the sides you can feel the tannins gently exerting their grip. There is not a hair out of place on this glorious, shimmering Clos des Epeneaux. Magnifique! Drink 2015-2025+

(I tasted the various elements of this wine, then an approximate blend; winemaker Benjamin Leroux now vinifies several cuvees by geology rather than age of vines): Good bright medium red. Captivating, highly complex aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, cherry, spices, orange zest, flowers, licorice, menthol and vanillin oak (40% new). Silky-sweet but with lovely energy and vinosity. Very suave in texture, expanding impressively on the back half and saturating the mouth with fruit and soil flavors. This classy, pliant wine shows superb balance and finishes with building, subtle length. The bottling won't take place until April, at the earliest. Incidentally, Leroux destems all of this fruit, as he believes vinification with a percentage of whole clusters makes more sense for delicate wines that need a bit more mid-palate oomph. Nor is he enamored with the idea of bottling the oldest vines bottled on their own, as he believes this wine would still be too tannic and hard when the tertiary aromas arrive after 10 or 15 years in bottle.

**Note: the 5+ ha Clos is composed of approximately 80% Petits Epenots and 20% Grands Epenots; the vine ages run from 18 to 75+ years of age. The 2010 Clos des Epeneaux is segregated into several different cuvées based on vineyard location and will then be blended in varying proportions. The tasting note that follows is based upon a sample that should reasonably resemble the final blend**
The combined cuvées revealed an exceptionally fresh combination of pure and quite elegant red cherry and raspberry aromas liberally laced with warm earth and iron nuances. There is really lovely purity to the gorgeously well-detailed, intense and muscular medium weight plus flavors that brim with dry extract and a caressing mouth feel before terminating in a mouth coating and explosively long finish. This is relentlessly persistent with outstanding depth on the palate staining finish. Terrific.