Joannes Violot-Guillemard - Pommard Les Rugiens 1er Cru 2022

DECANTER: "Joannès Violot-Guillemard describes his 0.45 hectares of Rugiens as 'Rugiens-Haut, but next to Rugiens-Bas'. It is the only parcel planted against the slope; one-third of the grapes are now trained on stakes (echalas) and grown without trimming. The rest is classically trained. The vines have given a superb result in 2022, with expressive ripe cherry and pomegranate wine and a texture that is silky and supple but very persistent. There is not a lot of colour, but there is huge potential here. This wine should be ready to drink fairly soon after release and will undoubtedly last for decades — impressive wine."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2022 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens is excellent, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums and raspberries mingled with exotic spices, orange zest and petals. Medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, its textural attack segues into an unctuous core of fruit, concluding with a long, expansive finish."

BURGHOUND: "An even spicier if moderately timid nose reluctantly offers up its perfumed aromas of plum, black raspberry and a whiff of rose petal. I very much like the sense of underlying tension to the relatively refined middleweight flavors that possess very good mid-palate volume as well as good depth and persistence on the youthfully austere finale. This intensely mineral-driven effort is excellent though like all competent examples of Rugiens, it’s definitely built for extended keeping."