2005 Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils Pommard La Chanière

Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils is in Chorey-les-Beaune. It was founded in 1952 by Daniel Maillard, whose family has been making wine in Burgundy since the 18th century. Today the 46-acre estate is run by Daniel’s sons Alain and Pascal. The estate includes Grand Cru parcels in Corton and Corton Renardes, and Premier Cru parcels in Aloxe Corton and Beaune. There are villages parcels in Ladoix, Pommard, Meursault, Chorey-les-Beaune and Savigny-les-Beaune. Clive Coates has called the estate “a good source for sound, consistently made wines which evolve in the medium term…”

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.