Pommard

Pommard breaks the Côte de Beaune's white wine monopoly with bold, age-worthy reds. Where Volnay (its neighbor) offers elegance, Pommard delivers power—wines of deep color, firm tannins, and dark fruit character that need time to show their best. The village's distinctive character comes from iron-rich clay soils that yield structured, sometimes rustic wines in youth. Patience is essential: fine Pommard requires a decade to soften, but rewards cellaring with complex notes of black cherry, earth, game, and leather. Two Premier Crus stand above the rest: Les Rugiens (particularly Rugiens Bas) and Les Épenots. Rugiens is so highly regarded that it has long been considered a candidate for Grand Cru status—its wines match or exceed many Côte de Nuits Grand Crus for intensity and aging potential. The village's robust style made it internationally famous in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in Britain and America. Today, quality-conscious producers make Pommard that combines traditional power with modern refinement.