Domaine Violot-Guillemard Pommard 1er Cru Les Arvelets 2021

Les Arvelets is a Premier Cru on the upper slope of Pommard in the Cote de Beaune, a village known for its firm, deeply coloured reds, and this comes from Domaine Violot-Guillemard, a sixth-generation family estate farming organically since 1999. The Pinot Noir grows on iron-rich clay and limestone soils, the dense, mineral ground that gives Pommard its structure and grip. Burgundy is cool and continental, and the slope's good drainage and the swing between warm days and cool nights ripen the grape slowly, building tannin and savoury depth while holding acidity. Joannes Violot-Guillemard works with minimal intervention, avoiding cultured yeasts and reverse osmosis and using only restrained oak so as not to cover the fruit, with twelve months in barrel lending gentle tannin and spice through slow oxygen exchange. Organic farming keeps the fruit expressive. The colour is deep ruby with a purple edge. The nose shows dark cherry and red berries, black pepper, turned earth and a note of leather, with liquorice underneath. The palate is full bodied for Burgundy, with firm tannins, bright acidity and a long, savoury finish that rewards cellaring. Serve at 16 to 17C and decant an hour ahead. It suits beef, game and mushrooms.