COMTE ARMAND
Jane Eyre
The fame of Domaine Comte Armand takes its roots in Pommard thanks to the “Clos des Epeneaux”, a superb 1er Cru vineyard of 5.2 hectares set-up historically as a “clos” by Nicolas Marey at the end of the 18th century (along with the DRC Romanée Saint Vivant “Marey-Monge”). In 1828, the clos des Epeneaux has been purchased by the family of Comte Armand (when Jean-Francois Armand married Clothilde Marey, daughter of Nicolas). They decided to extend the vineyard holdings in 1994 by purchasing some plots in Volnay and Auxey-Duresses.
The current Comte Armand is a lawyer in Paris, but over the decades he has put the Domaine into the hands of very gifted winemakers. Pascal Marchand, a Québecois who is now a famous winemaker in Côte de Nuits, made the wines here from the 1985 to 1998 vintages. In 1999 he was replaced by Benjamin Leroux, who is also nowadays a respected winemaker (based in Beaune). Benjamin handed over to Paul Zinetti in 2014, with the wines continuing to be crafted in the same tradition of quality, if anything, with an even more refined and pure style. From March 2026, the estate welcomed Jane Eyre as the new winemaker.
The fame of Domaine Comte Armand takes its roots in Pommard thanks to the “Clos des Epeneaux”, a superb 1er Cru vineyard of 5.2 hectares set-up historically as a “clos” by Nicolas Marey at the end of the 18th century (along with the DRC Romanée Saint Vivant “Marey-Monge”). In 1828, the clos des Epeneaux has been purchased by the family of Comte Armand (when Jean-Francois Armand married Clothilde Marey, daughter of Nicolas). They decided to extend the vineyard holdings in 1994 by purchasing some plots in Volnay and Auxey-Duresses.
The current Comte Armand is a lawyer in Paris, but over the decades he has put the Domaine into the hands of very gifted winemakers. Pascal Marchand, a Québecois who is now a famous winemaker in Côte de Nuits, made the wines here from the 1985 to 1998 vintages. In 1999 he was replaced by Benjamin Leroux, who is also nowadays a respected winemaker (based in Beaune). Benjamin handed over to Paul Zinetti in 2014, with the wines continuing to be crafted in the same tradition of quality, if anything, with an even more refined and pure style. From March 2026, the estate welcomed Jane Eyre as the new winemaker.
Clos des Epeneaux is still the jewel of the estate, forming a walled clos of 5.23 ha that straddles the border between Grand and Petits Epenots. The vineyard was not replanting - following phylloxera - until 1930. The bedrock here is made up of material laid down by the major watercourse which flowed through Pommard in the past. This forms a firm stratum of pearly flagstones in the upper part of the clos, where there is only 20-30 cms of topsoil. There are also ferrous oxide deposits, which contribute to the character of the wine. The vineyard is cultivated organically (Ecorcert certified) and biodynamically.
In the cellar, the approach is guided by a pursuit of elegance, purity and finesse, limiting tannin presence through soft extraction and focusing on aromatic …In the cellar, the approach is guided by a pursuit of elegance, purity and finesse, limiting tannin presence through soft extraction and focusing on aromatic length. Grapes are normally destemmed, though some whole-bunch fermentation may be used depending on the vintage. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, and a vertical press is used to gently extract, producing a "vin de presse" of fine and pure tannins.
Four specific plots have been identified and isolated into the Clos des Epeneaux, according to vineyard age (between 30- and 80-year-old), soil structure and texture. Paul is therefore vinifying and ageing separately 4 different cuvées before assembling all of them at the end of the elevage. While tasting at the domaine, it is fascinating to see how each cuvée from different vine age are complementing each other when assembled. Overall, the wines are aged for 18-24 months in oak barrels (max. 30% new oak).
If Pommard can be an elegant wine, then Clos des Epeneaux is the vineyard to demonstrate it. The tannins folds seamlessly into the fruit, providing an overall sense of harmony along with an impressive depth of flavour. Frequently this is a red-fruit wine, though darker characteristics are evident in warmer vintages.
Four specific plots have been identified and isolated into the Clos des Epeneaux, according to vineyard age (between 30- and 80-year-old), soil structure and texture. Paul is therefore vinifying and ageing separately 4 different cuvées before assembling all of them at the end of the elevage. While tasting at the domaine, it is fascinating to see how each cuvée from different vine age are complementing each other when assembled. Overall, the wines are aged for 18-24 months in oak barrels (max. 30% new oak).
If Pommard can be an elegant wine, then Clos des Epeneaux is the vineyard to demonstrate it. The tannins folds seamlessly into the fruit, providing an overall sense of harmony along with an impressive depth of flavour. Frequently this is a red-fruit wine, though darker characteristics are evident in warmer vintages.
REGION OF PRODUCTION
Burgundy
APPELLATION
Pommard
FOUNDED
18th century
VINEYARD
5,23 hectares
CLIMATE
Continental climate
SOIL COMPOSITION
Clay and Limestone
VARIETIES GROWN
Pinot Noir
AGRICULTURE
Organic and Biodynamic