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

Tasting notes and serving tips for the Pommard Premier Cru "Chaponnières" 2017 Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Tasting

Color

The wine shows a bright, clear ruby hue of moderate intensity, typical of elegant Pommards made from perfectly ripe grapes.

Nose

The bouquet reveals lovely aromatic complexity, opening on notes of ripe cherries and raspberries, intertwined with touches of black fruits such as blackberry and blackcurrant. These fruity aromas gradually evolve toward spicy nuances of black pepper and clove, accompanied by delicate hints of toffee, hazelnut and dried flowers.

Palate

The attack is very round and silky, offering a velvety texture directly linked to the clay-rich makeup of the Chaponnières terroir. The aromatic profile blossoms with fresh red fruits supported by mineral notes. The tannic structure, while present, remains extremely fine and perfectly integrated, with no dominant astringency. The finish lingers gracefully through several successive aromatic layers, culminating in remarkable, crystalline persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Pommard Premier Cru "Chaponnières" 2017 pairs harmoniously with finely prepared red meats, game meats such as deer, roe deer or wild boar, as well as red wine sauces such as coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon. It also complements, with elegance, aged washed-rind cheeses, notably Époisses, as well as grilled or roasted vegetables with concentrated flavors.

Serving and cellaring

The Pommard Premier Cru "Chaponnières" 2017 is ideally served at a temperature between 14 and 15°C. This wine will reach its peak between around 2024 and 2030.

An elegant, silky Pommard Premier Cru from Domaine Nicolas Rossignol in Burgundy

The estate

Established in 1997 by Nicolas Rossignol, a fifth-generation winegrower based in Volnay, the Domaine Nicolas Rossignol now spans around 17 to 20 hectares across nearly thirty appellations in the Côte de Beaune. After international training including internships in South Africa, Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Nicolas Rossignol developed a viticultural approach inspired by biodynamic principles and a winemaking philosophy that respects each terroir. In 2011, the merger with the family estate Rossignol-Jeanniard strengthened its position among the region’s benchmark names. Led by Nicolas Rossignol, the estate stands out for its meticulous parcel-by-parcel approach, favoring the authentic expression of each terroir.

The vineyard

The Climat Chaponnières is among the most prestigious terroirs of the Pommard appellation, classified as Premier Cru. Domaine Nicolas Rossignol farms a 0.18-hectare parcel here, located in the south of Pommard, below the renowned Climat Rugiens Bas. The soil, rich in clay and of considerable depth, rests on a largely clay-based substratum with a few stones in the upper sections. This clay composition gives the wine its characteristic softness and roundness. The vines, planted during the 1980s, benefit from favorable vegetative maturity, providing an optimal balance between aromatic complexity and structural freshness.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of the Pommard Premier Cru "Chaponnières" 2017 follows the estate’s principles, with complete destemming of the grapes, harvested by hand in small crates. Alcoholic fermentation occurs naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, with minimal extraction and a maceration period determined through daily tastings. Aging takes place over eighteen months in French oak barrels, 25% new wood, exclusively on fine lees without racking. Malolactic fermentation, deliberately delayed, begins around six months after alcoholic fermentation. This Burgundy wine is bottled without fining or filtration, thereby preserving its aromatic integrity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir