Domaine François Gaunoux - Pommard 1er Cru - Les Grands Epenots - Red - 2020

Wine:

In our glasses, the 2020 red Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Epenots already expresses all the elegance of pinot noir, with this noble, fresh and infused nose of great purity. The palate is astonishing and young, it is dominated by its minerality, bright flavors of morello cherries, the framework of a pinot fine in tannins, sparkling and precise. The absence of wood may be disconcerting, but in any case it erases any heaviness, offering today the most refined and refined aspect of a Pommard premier cru. In such a vintage, the estate assures - we take its word for it - a thirty-year aging capacity! Rated 93-95/100.

Vinification:

hand harvested.

Color:

Bright ruby red, of good intensity, with carmine reflections.

Nose:

With exceptional purity, this wine showcases fresh, elegant notes with a refined touch.

Palate:

Mineral and precise, this cuvée reveals exquisitely fine tannins and layered flavors of Morello cherry, offering a beautifully balanced and memorable tasting experience.

Temperature:

Serve between 14 and 16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Saddle of venison with blackcurrant sauce, roast partridge with juniper, rabbit stew.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2050, and even longer for enthusiasts.

Claudine Gaunoux, owner of the eponymous François Gaunoux estate, is a winemaker who’s truly hands-on in the vineyard, as she proudly puts it.

Tucked away from the guidebooks, this Burgundian estate remains a well-kept secret, yet its wines shine on France’s top tables—think Yannick Alléno, Cheval Blanc, or Guy Savoy, recently crowned Best Restaurant in the World once again. Claudine and her husband Jean-Pierre oversee twelve hectares across Beaune, Meursault, Volnay, and Pommard, including prized monopoles like Meursault’s Clos de Tavaux and Clos des Meix Chavaux, and the famous premier cru La Goutte d’Or.

The estate has a clear philosophy: showcase these celebrated Côte-d’Or terroirs without any oak masking their character—a rarity in Burgundy. This purity is what first drew us in, and our World’s Best Sommelier Olivier Poussier was equally blown away when tasting a 2009 blind: astonishing freshness and clarity, with no oak influence. Over time, these wines evolve naturally, revealing their depth without tannins imposed by barrels, offering a rare lesson in masterful élevage.