Domaine Parent
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Montelie as an AOP is half the production of Pommard, of which 90% is Pinot Noir. Ann sourced the grapes from her cousin’s estate based in Monthelie. The typical topography of the vineyards in Montelie is they are more south facing than it’s neighbour Volnay. The grapes are sourced from two lieu dits, one North of the village called Les Longieres and one South called Le Village. Average age of the vines is 45 years old.
No sorting at all needed in 2015, Ann recalls the grapes being near perfect. 100% Destemmed, fermented in open vat with pigeage during fermentation. 30% new french oak, 16 months in elevage.
CORTON GRAND CRU 2020
Cert organic
Bottle Shot
BOURGOGNE COTE D’OR 2020
Cert organic
Bottle Shot
The Cote d’Or winegrowers asked to have a specific classification for Bourgogne Cote d’Or which was made law in 2018, hence the new label and name designation. Domaine Parent were a big supporter of this decision as their Bourgogne is only sourced from the villages of Pommard and Volnay. Sourced from two parcels. exclusively Domaine fruit. 40 to 50 year old vines.
100% destemmed. Pieage at the start and towards end of fermentation. Pressed to barrel. No new oak used but she emphasises that she only uses her barrels for 5 years maximum for any of the wines. She doesn’t like after that as it doesn’t help oxidation. 228ltr barrels. 12 months total.
BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR SELECTION POMONE 2020
Cert organic
Bottle Shot
Ann started bottling this ‘super’ Bourgogne in 2015 simply because as she puts it “the quality from these old vines deserved it’s own wine”. It’s exclusively from a two parcel of vines, all over 50 years old near Pommard. The name Selection Pomone is inspired by the origins of the name of the Pommard village. Pomona was the Goddess for fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion.
100% destemmed. 14 days on skins. Aged in Demi Mud 600ltr longer elevage than the Bourgogne village. No new oak.
This wine is sourced from 2 vineyards sourced under the Jacques Parent negociant part of Domaine Parent. The Lieu dit of Les Noizons in the northern part and Trois Follots in the South. Both south east facing. Vines are an average age of 40 years old.
20% whole bunch in this wine due to the superb vintage conditions. Ann’s quick to comment that whole bunch fermentations for her are very vintage specific. 14 months in oak. 40% new.
POMMARD LA CROIX BLANCHE 2019
Cert organic
Bottle Shot
The village Lieu Dit of La Croix Blanche sits just south of the 1er Cru of Les Grands Epenots, a small road dividing the two vineyards. At the bottom in front of Les Grand Epenots. More fine clay than limestone in this vineyard. 37 years old.
Separate Lieu Dit village bottling as it deserves to be separate from the village Pommard label in Ann’s experience with this site. 10% whole bunch in 2019. old maceration for 3 to 5 days pre ferment then pigeage 2 to 3 times a day for approx 2 weeks. 16 months in oak. 40% new. Aged for 14 to 16 months.
“A ripe and attractively fresh nose flashes notes of liqueur-like purple fruit, earth, pepper and a hint of violet. The spicy, round and supple medium-bodied flavors possess a lovely sense of underlying tension and reasonably good detail, all wrapped in a mildly rustic and solidly complex finale. This is a very good Pommard villages and worth checking out” – Outstanding Top Value – Burghound
LADOIX 1ER CRU LA CORVEE 2019
Bottle Shot
The village of Ladoix sits just at the bottom of the hill of Corton. This vineyard is 37 years old, limestone at the top, heavier clay soils at the bottom. Domaine Parent own 0.3 hectare in the middle and bottom of the site.
100% destemmed. fermented in open vat with pigeage during fermentation.14 months in oak, 35% new oak as per Ann albeit the notes from Neal Martin Vinous say different. This was perhaps my favourite wine of the recent releases as it’s so delicious right now, very fragrant and open.
“The 2019 Ladoix La Corvée 1er Cru was entirely de-stemmed with no new oak. It has a fragrant bouquet with red cherries, crushed strawberry and light loamy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red fruit. Quite peppery in style, you would almost think there was some whole bunch in here. Fresh on the finish, this is a very commendable Ladoix from Anne Parent who confessed she used to be “confused by Ladoix”. Obviously not now!” – 90-92 – Neal Martin – Vinous
POMMARD 1ER CRU LES CHANLINS 2015
Cert organic
Bottle Shot
The 1er Cru of Les Chanlins sits right on the border with Volnay in the southern part of the Pommard AOP. The Domaine’s vineyards are approximately 18 years old, a younger site by their standards. Ann reminds me that despite being in the Southern part of the village where you normally expect limestone over clay with heavy deposits of iron this site has a lot more fine limestone/calcaire soils.
100% destemmed, pre-soak for 5 days before fermentation. Pressed off to barrel. 45% new french oak. 16 month elevage.
Review from April 2017 of this wine – “An arresting if restrained nose reluctantly displays floral, spice and soft earth nuances on the ripe red and dark currant-scented aromas. There is first-rate delineation to the vibrant and tautly muscular medium weight flavors that exude an almost pungent minerality on the firm, serious and youthfully austere finish where about the only nit is a very mild hint of warmth. This is built-to-age and is going to need it” – Sweet Spot – Outstanding – Burghound
POMMARD 1ER CRU LES EPENOTS 2019
Bottle Shot
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Les Epenots story is that in 1935 when the INAO where classifying the vineyards of the Cote d’Or this vineyard, along with Rugien in the south of the Pommard appellation were nominated to be Grand Cru vineyards. At the time the various owners of these two sites were concerned on higher taxes being applied due to the new potential GC status along with in-village differing opinions of the usual “why should x vineyard be Grand Cru and not mine etc”. The decision was taken to refuse the Grand Cru status and nominate both as a 1er Cru. Of course fast forward to more recent times and it’s commonly accepted that these two sites are of Grand Cru quality. However time moves slowly in such historic regions and it wasn’t until 2015 that an official application was begun to request the upgrade of these two sites to Grand Cru. I mention this as Ann Parent was a key contributor to this application. She told me recently that “she felt a duty to be a part of this application, even if it will probably only be granted years after my retirement”, with a wry smile appearing after this comment.
Produced from 2 parcels representing 1.70 ha of Pinot Noir each located in the Les Grands Epenots and Les Petits Epenots. The vines of the “Grands Epenots” are 28 years old and 55 years old for the “Petits Epenots” they produce an average yield of 45 hl/ha. 40% whole bunch, pressed off to barrel. 50% new. 16 months in oak. Bottled May 2021.
“There is enough wood to notice on the big-bodied flavors that possess fine concentration and exceptionally good richness as there is so much extract that this is almost chewy. This is a powerful example with excellent size, weight and punch, all wrapped in a lingering finish where the only nit is a trace of warmth. If you have the discipline to wait for this to mature it should be outstanding in time” – Outstanding – Sweet Spot – Burghound
“A blend of Les Grands and Les Petits Epenots lieux-dits, the 2019 Pommard Les Epenots 1er Cru is made with 35% whole bunches ad 50% new French oak. It has a fragrant and quite floral bouquet, wilted rose petals intertwined with red berry fruit, touches of sage in the background, later damp loam. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, beautifully balanced with the greatest precision on the finish. Excellent” – 93-95 – Neal Martin – Vinous