1978 Prince Florent de Merode Pommard Clos de la Platiere

Domaine Prince Florent de Merode is a 15-acre domaine in Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pommard. It has been owned by the same family since 1700 and it includes a splendid moated castle. Wine has always been made at the domain in very small amounts. When the prince and then his wife died a few years ago, their children leased out six acres of their Corton parcel to Domaine de la Romanee Conti. The first Prince Florent de Merode wines made by DRC were from the 2009 vintage. Even before 2009, Clive Coates wrote that the “Prince de Merode’s wines are well colored, rich, concentrated, individual and stylish. This is one of the best sources today for a range of quality Corton.”

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.