In June 2016, Allen Meadows ; the renowned American wine critic and publisher of the Burghound.com newsletter and website ; visited Château de Pommard and enjoyed a tasting of several vintages of Clos Marey-Monge Monopole and Simone with Emmanuel Sala. In April 2017, Allen published his report, and his scores. Suffice to say, the team at Château de Pommard are most pleased, indeed.
Often viewed as the definitive view on Burgundian matters, the opinion of Allen Meadows’s Burghound.com is a vital reading of the region’s pulse. Known as the leading Burgundy critic, Allen’s reputation comes with much expectation and weight. For many domaines across the Côte d’Or, an excellent score and review on the website can be an incredible boost of confidence in these unpredictable days.
It was with great pleasure (and a small amount of panic) that Emmanuel Sala received Mr Meadows in June 2016. He treated him to a selection of Clos Marey-Monge Monopole and Simone vintages. A great day out for all concerned, it seems. “It was a delight to welcome Allen Meadows to Château de Pommard,” Emmanuel said. “It’s always fascinating when someone you respect, trust, and enjoy their company, comes to the Château and enjoys tasting our wine. I was thrilled and honored when I read Allen’s 2017 report, especially as the wines he tasted did superbly. I am very proud of them, so these scores make me smile.”
We’re delighted to announce that out of the six wines Allen sipped, swirled and savored at the “beautiful Château de Pommard”, all reached the near-pinnacle of perfection, a score of more than 90. Here are those scores in full:
- Simone 2012, Score 92
- Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2012, Score 90
- Simone 2011, Score 91
- Simone 2010, Score 92
- Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2010, Score 91
- Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2008, Score 90
Tasting Simone 2012
“Moderate but not really dominant wood surrounds the notably floral-inflected assortment of red berry fruit aromas that are cut with plenty of earth influence. There is at once fine richness but also good refinement to the powerful and concentrated middle weight flavors that deliver seriously good length on the very firm finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth. This is not even remotely close to ready though that is not surprising given the magnum format.”
Score 92
Time to enjoy 2032+
Tasting Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2012
“A riper nose displays a variety of dark berries, and in particular cassis and black raspberry, and is also trimmed by relatively prominent notes of wood and menthol. The succulent, dense and powerful medium-bodied flavors brim with dry extract on the balanced, serious and brooding finale. This is impressive in that there is no apparent hail effect on the finish but even so, this too is going to require ample patience.”
Score 90
Time to enjoy 2027+
Tasting Simone 2011
“Once again the wood is borderline intrusive though the distinctly earthy but quite pretty red cherry, currant and raspberry are still visible. The lush, opulent and impressively rich broad-shouldered flavors are also supported by a very firm tannic spine on the balanced and strikingly long finish. As I have observed several times, this possesses fine quality, and particularly so for the vintage, but stylistically it’s not for me.”
Score 91
Time to enjoy 2029+
Tasting Simone 2010
“This is aromatically quite similar to the 2011 Simone though the mouth feel of the solidly concentrated imposingly-scaled flavors is even finer as the dense tannins are notably fine-grained, all wrapped in a hugely long and well-balanced finale though it is extremely firm at this early stage. This is a remarkable impressive Pommard villages in every respect as the quality of the underlying material is absolutely irreproachable. With those admirable attributes duly noted, I once again observe that the style is anything but neutral and as such it won’t be for everyone and that includes me.”
Score 92
Time to enjoy 2032+
Tasting Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2010
“In contrast to the above wines where the wood treatment is evident but not really overt, this is not the case here as it’s marked and intrusive and frankly fights with the otherwise pretty and relatively elegant mix of red and dark pinot fruit, earth, spice and floral aromas. The elegance continues onto the palate impression of the focused, delineated and powerful flavors that are underpinned by very firm but not hard tannins on the sappy and well-balanced finish. From a qualitative standpoint this too is quite good and to be fair there is at least a chance that the wood will eventually be absorbed if you have the necessary patience. That said, from purely a stylistic perspective this level of wood doesn’t appeal to me at all.”
Score 91
Time to enjoy 2025+
Tasting Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2008
“A pungent and very fresh nose combines notes of menthol, wood toast and still primary red cherry, dark currant, cool earth and a whiff of lilac. There is much better energy and delineation if not the same mid-palate density to the medium-bodied flavors that are beginning to develop really lovely depth on the impressively persistent finish. While this could certainly be enjoyed now I would advise holding it for another 5 to 7 years first. In sum, this is a very good 2008 Pommard villages.”
Score 90
Time to enjoy 2021+
To read more of Allen Meadow’s Issue 66 of Burghound, where these scores were published, head on over to burghound.com.