Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard has been under the ownership of the same family in an unbroken line since before the French revolution, an extreme rarity in Burgundy. Until 1994 the domaine owned only one vineyard, their famous 13-acre Monopole Clos des Epeneaux – an outstanding 1er Cru in Pommard. The current Comte Armand – Vicomte Gabriel Armand, is a Parisian lawyer who has continued the family tradition of relying on resident-managers, or regisseurs, to conduct all of the domaine’s affairs.

A gorgeous glowing purple. Heady but balanced and absolutely stunning. Paul Zinetti made up a trial blend using all four cuvees and the press wine, with 50% new wood. He will maybe keep the wine in barrel for a full two years. So completely mouthfilling yet with perfect balance, the tannins are fully ripe, there is the right degree of acidity, and an endlessly long finish. It can cope with its 14.2% alcohol. Date: Nov 2024; Drink from 2032-2040; Rating:  93 - 95 Points; Jasper Morris; Inside Burgundy

A ripe, very fresh and agreeably spicy nose reflects notes of dark cherry, cassis and plenty of warm earth character. The sleek, delicious and vibrant middle weight flavors are not particularly dense, at least not in the context of their usual concentration, all wrapped in a beautifully textured, balanced and impressively long finish that also displays a touch of bitter pit fruit. While certainly a nice wine, this is not destined to be one of the all-time great Clos des Epeneaux, at least not from the perspective of longer-term aging, in fact it should drink reasonably well early on. Date: Apr 2025; Drink: 2031+; Issue: 98; Comments: Outstanding; Rating 90-93 Points; Allen Meadows; Burghound