Sweet Spot Outstanding. Not surprisingly, the nose is similar to that of the Pommard "1er" though it's more complex with a perfumed character to the distinctly earth-inflected red currant, blue berry and plum aromas. There is good power and plenty of punch to the broad-shouldered and muscular medium-bodied flavors that are shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins on the perfectly balanced and highly persistent finish. This is really very impressive and while it's not quite at the same level as the 2010 version, it's a more than worthy successor. Drink: 2023+
-Allen Meadows, Burghound.com, Issue 50. Tasted: Apr 15, 2013

(I tasted the components of this wine and then this representative blend): Bright medium red. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, cherry and spices, with complicating hints of mint and menthol. Lush, full and ripe yet classically dry, with a captivating creamy texture and terrific vinosity to the flavors of cherry, licorice and rocky minerality. Really impeccably balanced. The primary, slowly mounting finish shows plenty of tannic support and terrific energy. Winemaker Benjamin Leroux noted that this wine got 75% new oak when he took over here in 1999; today, it's 35%.

A beautiful, mid-weight Burgundy, the 2011 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux flows across the palate with layered, silky fruit and expressive aromatics. The 2011 is a very pretty, accessible Clos des Epeneaux that offers considerable near and medium-term appeal. In 2011, winemaker Benjamin Leroux used just a dollop of whole clusters, around 10%.

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux offers a pleasant marine influence on the nose with touches of iodine and seaweed infusing the dark black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm but not austere tannins. There is good density here, the best balanced Pommard of the flight, the finish showing fine delineation, structure and typicity. This the most complete wine of the flight, although winemaker Benjamin Leroux crafted a superior wine in 2012.

The richness of the fruit puts up more of a battle against the tannins here. But it is still very hard work on the finish. There is energy here but little acknowledgment of 2011's special qualities and challenges! Best wait and see...? (JR)