Domaine de Courcel has been around for a long time, 400 years to be exact. The estate, located in the village of Pommard, boasts 9.5 hectares of prime Premier Cru real estate.
Pinot fruit is harvested from four vineyards in particular: Le Grand Clos des Epenots, Les Rugiens, Les Fremiers and Les Croix Noires. Currently, winemaker Yves Confuron is known for producing concentrated, generous red Burgundies made from fruit harvested very late for maximum ripeness.
While these wines possess the sweetness to give early pleasure, they also have the structure and stuffing to age. In addition to the Premier Crus, Domaine de Courcel also produces a Pommard Vaumuriens, a Bourgogne Pinot Noir and a Bourgogne Chardonnay.
94 Points Allen Meadows
Here there is a wonderfully elegant, cool and very pure red pinot fruit nose nuanced with that crushed stone/mineral note that some terroirs seem to consistently exude that continues onto the rich, dense and remarkably powerful flavors that display no rusticity at all. The structural elements are clearly ripe and I really like the intensity here. Overall, this is finer than the Epenots but not more complex and the only difference is a bit more depth of material. Worth a special search to find and cellar but note that it’s for the very patient. *Outstanding*
94 Points Wine Advocate
The Courcel 2005 Pommard Rugiens comes from the chalkiest, upper portion of that great site (in fact, just below the domaine’s Vaumuriens). Everything about this wine just seems to be pulling together today – and in a promising direction. Mulberry, cassis, roasted meats, and black chocolate in the nose are joined by stimulatingly salty and soy-like savory notes on the palate. Full and rich but finely structured with incipient creaminess of texture, this displays impressive reach and grip and a seamless integration of fruit, meat, and mineral elements.