Domaine Billard-Gonnet Pommard 1er Cru Clos de Verger 2011

For salt-of-the-earth, old school Burgundy look no further than Billard-Gonnet. One of Burgundy’s most historical domaines, it was originally created in 1766, which makes it by far one of the region’s most established. Today, it is run by the pensive yet charming Philippe Billard who has been at its helm for multiple decades. Sadly, he will be hanging up his vigneron hat soon to retire so these wines look to be amongst his last. The 2011 Clos de Verger is a pretty Pommard that opens up with a nose of soft ripe cherries, cola nut and some evolving secondary notes of spice and a touch of forest floor. Nicely round but fresh, this is a wine that is drinking well now and shows a softer side to the structured side of Pommard.

Robin says "Billard-Gonnet wines are just like Philippe Gonnet describes them, "Like those of my grandfather" as he makes them in the same way. They offer a charming, rusticity but with depth. Saying that, his 2011 Clos de Verger is a bit more sumptious on the palate and with a few years under its belt, it is showing some really appealing tertiary flavours adding extra complexity."