Arnaud Baillot Pommard Vieilles Vignes 2021

Arnaud Baillot and his wife Laure make this Pommard from old Pinot Noir vines in the Côte d'Or, the heart of Burgundy. Pommard sits in the Côte de Beaune and is known for the firmest, most structured reds of its neighbourhood, a character that comes from its iron-rich, clay-heavy limestone soils, which give the Pinot Noir more colour, body and tannin than the lighter villages nearby. The old vines, with their deep roots and low yields, concentrate the fruit. The cool continental climate keeps the acidity bright and the aromatics fresh. The wine is aged in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannin and adds a frame of gentle spice without overwhelming the Pinot fruit. The result is a medium-bodied red, deeper and firmer than most village Burgundy. The nose shows ripe red cherry and red berry, a floral rose note and an earthy, savoury, faintly woodland complexity. The palate is structured and fresh at 12.5 percent, the fruit carried on fine tannin and clean acidity through a long finish. Serve at 15 to 17 degrees in a large bowled glass. It suits roast duck, beef and mushroom dishes.