2005 Domaine de la Vougeraie Pommard Les Petits Noizons

Domaine de la Vougeraie is a Burgundy producer and importer of numerous Grands Crus, Premier Crus and villages wines. Based in the village of Premeaux-Prissey in Nuits-St.-Georges, the domaine was founded in 1961 by Jean-Claude Boisset and his wife. Since then the family has acquired numerous domaines in Burgundy, other parts of France, and in California, Canada and Italy. The Boisset Family owns and operates one of France’s largest wine conglomerates. Domaine de la Vougeraie became what it is today when, in 1999, the son and daughter of the founder assembled 86 acres of vineyards across 28 Burgundy appellations and brought them all under the control of Domaine de la Vougeraie. The domaine’s Grand Crus include Bonnes Mares, Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyeres, Clos de Vougeot and Musigny.

Pommard is a relatively large appellation of 1,655 vineyard acres just a few miles south of Beaune. Though it has no Grands Crus, Pommard’s 28 Premiers Crus are generally well regarded. The appellation produces only red wine, and wine writers often note that despite Pommard’s proximity to both Beaune and Volnay, its wines are very different from the Pinot Noirs produced in neighboring appellations. Robert M. Parker Jr. wrote that “The top Pommards are full-bodied, chunky, muscular, fleshy wines that impress one more for their power and expansive, mouth filling texture than for pure finesse.” The most famous Premiers Crus are Les Epenots and Les Rugiens.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.