Ballot-Millot Pommard Charmots Premier Cru 2018
-
Jasper
Morris
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jasper Morris
Charles Ballot often uses 30 to 50% whole bunch for Les Charmots but not in 2018. Three small plots make 6 barrels in a normal year, from a fine selection of pinot with some age (50 to 65 years). Medium deep purple, with some elegance to the nose and a bit more weight of fruit than the Volnay Santenots. Delicious perfume with some cherry notes, a very slight bitterness. Picked at the right time. Indeed Charles picked this earlier in the series than usual, a good idea.
Other Vintages
2017-
Robert
Parker
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Representing some of the darkest, deepest and sturdiest Pinot Noir of Burgundy, Pommard is one of the two villages in Côte de Beaune—along with Volnay—that is recognized for its impressive Pinot Noir. While it can’t boast any Grands Crus vineyards, its extraordinary Premiers Crus vineyards are aplenty.
Les Pézerolles, Les Épenots, Clos des Épeneaux, Les Chanlins, Les Jarolières, Les Fremiers and particularly Les Rugiens are among the most outstanding Premiers Crus.
The best Pommards will be concentrated in flavors such as black cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate, have dazzling aromas of violets, menthol or wild herbs and a firm and powerful finish. They typically demand some time in the bottle to reach their peak.