Domaine Lafouge Pommard 1er Cru "Grands Epenots" 2023

Domaine Lafouge Pommard 1er Cru Grands Epenots 2023

Grands Epenots sits on the shortlist of Pommard sites long whispered as grand cru-worthy, and Lafouge’s 2023 release proves the point in emphatic fashion. Concentrated from fifty-year-old Pinot Noir rooted in limestone-marl over hard Comblanchien bedrock, the wine layers dark fruit depth over a graphite spine that feels carved from the hill itself. A careful ferment with a proportion of whole clusters brings extra lift, while twelve months in 228 L barrels (25 % new) followed by a short rest in tank preserves precision and drive. The finish fans out with persistence and authority - a heavyweight Burgundy that will define any collection it joins.

Producer: Domaine Lafouge
Vintage: 2023
Designation: Pommard 1er Cru Grands Epenots
Parcels / Lieu-dit: Grands Epenots
Variety: Pinot Noir
Average Vine Age: 50 years
Soils & Exposure: Limestone-marl over Comblanchien bedrock at 280 m, east-south-east aspect
Fermentation: Hand-harvested; mostly destemmed with some whole clusters; cold soak 5-10 days; indigenous yeasts in open vats with gentle punch-downs and pump-overs
Élevage: 12 months in 228 L barrels (25 % new), then a few months in tank; no fining; light lees filtration only
Alcohol: 
Total Production: 

The Domaine
Domaine Lafouge has quietly stewarded Auxey-Duresses vineyards since 1650, yet under sixth-generation vigneron Maxime Lafouge the cellar now punches far above its weight. Farming lutte raisonnée and harvesting entirely by hand, the family crafts whites and reds that rival better-known Meursault addresses while remaining refreshingly modest in price. Rarité is proud to serve as the estate’s Danish partner, offering allocations that vanish quickly among in-the-know Burgundy collectors.