Bouchard Père & Fils : Pommard 1er cru Domaine 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Pommard 1er cru Domaine 2020 from Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Color

Deep garnet in hue, this wine shows violet highlights, reflecting both its youth and its remarkable ageing potential.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet reveals fine complexity, with notes of black cherries and ripe raspberries, complemented by nuances of licorice and anise. With aeration, aromas of undergrowth, mineral notes and peony emerge, enhanced by subtle touches of vanilla and cinnamon brought by ageing in oak barrels.

Palate

The palate is full and velvety, with a lovely concentration of red and black fruit. The tannic structure—present yet silky—is perfectly balanced by well-preserved freshness. Mineral and spicy notes lead into a long, fragrant finish, highlighting the expression of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Pommard 1er cru Domaine 2020 pairs harmoniously with roasted or grilled red meats, coq au vin, feathered game, or venison served with a mushroom sauce. It also beautifully complements aged cheeses such as Époisses de Bourgogne or an old Comté.

Serving and cellaring

This Pommard 1er cru Domaine 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. The wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve through to around 2030.

A concentrated, well-balanced Pommard Premier Cru by Bouchard Père & Fils

The estate

Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s most venerable institutions. The estate now spans 98.7 hectares across 77 distinct climats in the Côte d'Or, more than two-thirds of which are classified as Premiers and Grands Crus. Acquired by Artémis Domaines in September 2022, under the leadership of Frédéric Engerer, the estate has embarked on a radical transformation: abandoning négociant activities and, in October 2024, creating the Domaine des Cabottes, bringing together 35 hectares of the most prestigious terroirs. Certified organic in 2025, the estate is moving toward biodynamics for its elite parcels, embodying a complete rethinking that favors the precise expression of Burgundy’s terroirs.

The vineyard

This wine comes from Premier Cru-classified parcels within the Pommard appellation, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune. The blend brings together several prestigious climats, including Les Rugiens, Les Pézerolles and Les Charmots. The vines benefit from optimal south to south-east exposures and grow on limestone soils enriched with ferruginous deposits, which give Pommard wines their intense color and distinctive structure.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Bourgogne was marked by early budbreak and a vegetative cycle accelerated by around three weeks. Summer brought high temperatures, exceptional sunshine and significant water stress. Despite these extreme conditions, cool nights during ripening helped preserve the grapes’ natural acidity. Harvest began on August 23 in Pommard, delivering fruit of remarkable quality, although yields were down by 30 to 50% for red varieties, thereby concentrating phenolic compounds and aromas.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes for the Pommard 1er cru Domaine 2020 are hand-harvested, with rigorous berry sorting. After partial or total destemming depending on the vintage’s needs, alcoholic fermentation takes place in small vessels with gentle punch-downs. Maceration lasts 15 to 20 days. Ageing then continues for 12 to 14 months in the historic cellars of the Bastions du Château de Beaune, in French oak barrels, 30 to 40% of which are new, allowing harmonious maturation without masking the fruit’s expression.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.