Catching the right vintage of Comte Armand's Clos Des Epeneaux is a jaw-dropping experience.
The 2010 is one of those vintages. In general, it's a vintage that I love for its clarity, concentration, and snappy radiance.
I've always thought that the 2010 Clos Des Epeneaux is one of the great examples of the wine since it was released. I jumped at this very modest parcel when I say it.
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Pommard, like Nuits St. Georges and Gevrey, produces dense, fiercely muscular wines. People looking for the delicacy and laciness of Chambolle or Volnay can be thrown off by Pommard.
However, with top 1er Crus like Epenots, there's no mistaking the grandeur, the complexity, and outright breeding that Pommard is capable of. This is particularly true of Comte Armand's Clos des Epeneaux. It's fair to say that, at its best, Comte Armand's Clos des Epeneaux can hit heights that rival Grand Crus.
Clos des Epeneaux's density and formidable structure needs time to reveal just how profound it can be, but when it does - watch out! The longevity of Clos des Epeneaux is shocking. In 2008, Burghound more or less flipped over a bottle of 1864. His tasting note clearly shows the elite level that Clos des Epeneaux can inhabit, "the sheer depth and extract reminded me more than a little of some of the great bottles of Romanée-Conti and La Romanée that I have had from this era."
Our experience with recent vintages, like 93 and 99, have also been very impressive. Both clearly have long lives ahead of them, but you could clearly see the complexity that time is slowly starting to tease out of the wines.
To focus on how packed and powerful that Clos des Epeneaux can be misses a key element. With time, it's capable of supreme elegance. The 2010 promises to be a distance runner. I need to close by warning you that quantities are very limited.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
Burghound: "Initially there is enough reduction present to remark upon but it slowly gives way to the still super-fresh and very primary aromas of various red berries, spice and discreet floral nuances. There is both fine richness and density to the vibrant full-bodied flavors that possess a really lovely mouth feel thanks to the abundance of dry extract, all wrapped in gorgeously persistent and well-balanced finale. This is very much built-to-age and is clearly going to need it but it should be wonderful when it finally reaches its apogee."