2015 Benjamin Leroux, Pommard Premier Cru, Les Rugiens

(from Rugiens-Haut; a new wine made from fruit from the same owner as the Volnay Caillerets; vinified with a lower percentage of whole clusters than the Caillerets): Dark red. Medicinal cherry, menthol, licorice, tobacco and an iron note on the nose. Dense black cherry and dark berry flavors show a medicinal reserve, which gives juiciness and cut to the middle palate. The tannins spread out to saturate the palate. This wine should continue to expand during its final months of elevage , not to mention its early years in bottle.

The 2015 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens-Hauts, the first release from this lieu-dit, has a more opulent nose than the village cru, one that wants to make an impression on its debut, hints of kirsch filtering through the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, harmonious and focused with a mixture of red and black fruit, very refined and while not structured, offers a very feminine and caressing finish. This is a sublime and assured offering.