Wonderfully complex aromas of ripe black fruit, crushed herbs and berries with unmistakable earth aromas. Medium-bodied, powerful, concentrated fresh flavors are structured but not overtly tannic with plenty of underlying material and sappy extract. Despite all the sap, this finishes with a distinct note of velvet and fine, sneaky length. This is an extremely impressive effort and worth a special search

Slightly hazy medium red. Reticent but still-fresh aromas of redcurrant, red cherry, truffle and leather; lovely fruit retention here. Concentrated and energetic, offering considerable sex appeal to its flavors of red fruits, leather, smoked meat, truffle and earth. The suave finish features fine-grained tannins nicely supported by mid-palate fruit and excellent length. (Winemaker Paul Zinetti also showed me a 375-ml. bottle of the basic Pommard, made from young vines from the Clos, and it too showed lovely sweetness and retention of fruit--remarkable for the bottle format. I rated this sample 89 points.)

The 2001 Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epéneaux feels fully mature; a bouquet with smudged red berry fruit laced with bay leaf and forest floor scents. It is attractive, although lacks the energy I expect. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, degraded red fruit that is ferrous in style, hints of Seville orange marmalade and a dash of white pepper on the finish. This was never my favourite era for this domaine, recent vintages demonstrating much more finesse and terroir expression. Tasted at Sarah Marsh’s 2000 and 2001 horizontal tasting.

Monopole. Evolved so that there is both sweetness and freshness with a strong liquorice note. Great to taste a mature example of this; much more often tasted as a baby. There didn't seem to be any alcohol cited on the label. (JR)