Domaine Nicolas Rossignol : Pommard 1er cru "Argilières" 2017

Tasting Characteristics and Recommendations for the Pommard 1er Cru "Argilières" 2017 from Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a beautifully intense ruby-red hue.

Nose

The nose opens with concentrated aromas of black fruit and game, alongside notes of undergrowth and menthol. With aeration, the bouquet reveals nuances of ripe plum, warm earth, and subtle floral touches of violet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its satiny texture and medium-to-full body. The palate reveals a juicy core of red and black fruit that coats fine, structuring tannins. The finish lingers with purity and mineral precision, unveiling notes of cranberry and wild strawberry. The tannins, still firm in their youth, promise beautiful development.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Pommard 1er Cru "Argilières" 2017 pairs perfectly with game meats such as venison, wild boar, or braised pheasant. It also goes very well with beef bourguignon, grilled red meats, or aged cheeses such as Époisses or Comté. Dishes featuring duck confit also make a harmonious match.

Serving and Cellaring

This Pommard 1er Cru "Argilières" 2017 is best served at a temperature of 15-16°C (59-61°F). While enjoyable now, it will gain in complexity with a few additional years of cellaring.

An Elegant, Mineral Pommard Premier Cru from Burgundy

The Estate

Founded in 1997 by Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Nicolas Rossignol now spans around 17 hectares across the Côte de Beaune. The fifth generation of a winegrowing family established in Volnay, Nicolas Rossignol enriched his expertise through international experience before founding his own estate. In 2011, the merger with Domaine Rossignol-Jeanniard marked a major milestone, bringing together nearly thirty different appellations. Based in Beaune, Nicolas Rossignol personally oversees all viticultural and winemaking operations. The estate stands out for its non-certified biodynamic approach and its infusion-over-extraction philosophy, embodying a new generation of Burgundian winemakers focused on expressing terroir.

The Vineyard

The Argilières Climat is located in the northeastern part of the Pommard appellation, just above the prestigious Grand Épenots. Its name evokes the clay-rich nature of its soils, made up of complex layers of clay and limestone enriched with iron-bearing elements. This composition gives the wine an intermediate structure within Pommard, combining finesse with the body typical of the appellation. Pommard’s slightly cooler microclimate, combined with these clay soils, encourages the development of structured tannins and a distinctive mineral profile.

The Vintage

The 2017 vintage in Bourgogne is defined by its abundance and approachability. After April frosts that were less severe than the previous year, the season unfolded with a dry, warm, bright summer, benefiting from sunshine levels 12% above average. This solar generosity promoted excellent phenolic ripeness while preserving bright acidity. Early harvesting beginning in August made it possible to pick grapes at optimal ripeness, producing wines with moderate alcohol levels between 12.5 and 13.5%. The 2017 vintage offers fruity, mineral wines with wonderful accessibility.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes for the Pommard 1er Cru "Argilières" 2017 are harvested by hand and meticulously sorted. Alcoholic fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts over six to eight days, with gentle, daily punch-downs. The proportion of whole clusters varies depending on the plots and the vintage. After fermentation, the wine is transferred by gravity into barrels for aging of 10 to 20 months on fine lees, without racking. The share of new oak ranges from 0% to 50% depending on the terroir. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately delayed by around six months. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration, according to the lunar calendar.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir