Domaine Nicolas Rossignol : Pommard 1er cru "Chanlins" 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Pommard 1er cru "Chanlins" 2020 from Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep, dark red hue, lifted by mauve highlights that are characteristic of its youth.

Nose

The nose reveals pronounced aromas of blueberries and ripe black cherries, accompanied by secondary notes of leather, tobacco and spice. Floral and mineral touches develop with aeration, evoking the limestone richness of the terroir. The bouquet evolves toward nuances of cedarwood, earth and slate.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a fine concentration of dark fruit, with flavors of black cherry, blackberry and blueberry, supported by notes of graphite, minerality and spice. The tannins, silky and beautifully ripe, provide a firm, elegant structure that perfectly balances the fruit expression. Natural acidity brings freshness and vibrancy, while the texture offers lovely breadth without heaviness. The persistent, mineral finish leaves an impression of depth and authenticity.

Food and wine pairings

This Pommard 1er cru "Chanlins" 2020 is an ideal match for furred and feathered game, whether roasted or braised. It also pairs beautifully with generous beef dishes such as bœuf bourguignon or a grilled côte de bœuf. Lamb dishes and aged washed-rind cheeses also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Pommard 1er cru "Chanlins" 2020 at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. Decanting for one to two hours before serving will allow the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity.

A powerful and elegant Pommard premier cru from Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1997 by Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Nicolas Rossignol now covers seventeen hectares across nearly thirty appellations of the Côte de Beaune. A fifth-generation winegrower in Volnay, Nicolas Rossignol enhanced his family expertise through experience in France and abroad before establishing his own estate. In 2011, the merger with Domaine Rossignol-Jeanniard strengthened the operation, now based in Beaune. Nicolas Rossignol personally manages the estate, applying a philosophy of reasoned, sustainable viticulture and minimal-intervention winemaking to reveal the authenticity of each Burgundian terroir.

The vineyard

The Pommard 1er cru "Chanlins" comes from an exceptional parcel of just 0.15 hectare, planted in 1910. Located in the southern part of the Pommard appellation, between Volnay 1er cru "Les Pitures" and Pommard 1er cru "Les Rugiens Haut", this vineyard benefits from a limestone and clay terroir that is particularly well suited to expressing pinot noir. The remarkable age of the vines, over one hundred years old, ensures naturally low yields of around thirty-five hectoliters per hectare, thereby concentrating aromatic compounds and substance.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy was marked by an exceptionally hot and dry year. After a mild, wet winter, the growing cycle began nearly a month early. Spring and summer brought pronounced drought conditions, with a heat peak at the end of July coinciding with veraison. Welcome rains at the end of August provided relief for the vines. This early year produced grapes concentrated by dehydration, while maintaining remarkably high natural acidity, creating wines of outstanding balance between ripeness and freshness.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for the Pommard 1er cru "Chanlins" 2020 were hand-harvested and carefully sorted. Fermentation took place naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, with gentle extractions favoring infusion rather than forceful extraction. Aging was carried out in oak barrels for ten to twenty months, on fine lees without racking. Malolactic fermentation was deliberately delayed until the following spring to preserve freshness and develop aromatic complexity. The wine was bottled without fining or filtering.

Grape variety

100% pinot noir