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 the current winemaker in charge, Paul Zinetti, in 2014. The wines thereafter continue to be made in the same way of quality, or perhaps even with an enhanced, refined and pure style.

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.