2001 Jean-Marc Boillot Pommard Les Rugiens

Jean-Marc Boillot is a 27-acre domaine based in Pommard. Jean-Marc is part of a well-known and large winemaking family in Burgundy and in 1989 he inherited vineyards from his grandfather, which allowed him to start his own operation. Boillot makes both red and white wines, and Clive Coates has noted that “this is one of the very few quality domaines in Burgundy which is equally as important in Pinot Noir as Chardonnay…” The domaine includes a Grand Cru parcel in Batard-Montrachet, and Premier Crus in Beaune, Pommard, Volnay and Puligny-Montrachet. Boillot is also a negociant and owns a 42-acre domaine in Languedoc.

Les Rugiens is really two vineyards. Les Rugiens-Hauts, or “upper,” is a 16-acre Premier Cru vineyard and Les Rugiens-Bas, or “lower,” is a 14.5-acre Premier Cur vineyard just below it. Both are in the Pommard appellation in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune, just south of the village. Since there are no Grand Crus in Pommard, the Premier Crus have special importance. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “Pommard at its best is the fullest wine made in the Cote de Beaune.”

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.