THE GAUNOUX LINEUP

"Pommard "Les Tavannes":

the Gaunoux holdings are in this small but well-placed lieu-dit of Tavannes which is situated just underneath Les Petits Epenots and almost touching Les Grand Epenots, thus a vineyard that is one of the best-situated of the various village plots; it is at its core a classic Pommard with strength, a touch of rusticity, deep red color, and expressive of the range of red berries; it is ample in the mouth with a tenacity that will make for excellent aging.  

Pommard 1er Cru "Les Epenots":

here the vineyards are less steeply sloped and are placed at the border with Beaune; the result is perhaps the most "tender" or fine of the Pommards with grace and agility rather than toughness; the color is ruby-inflected and the wine shows a woodsy red fruit quality; overall a wine of great finesse that opens earlier than its fellow Pommards.  

Pommard 1er Cru "Les Grands Epenots":

placed on hillside vineyards with a perfect southeast exposure in stony soil that are rich and deep with excellent drainage; this situation produces a durable, tough, and earthy wine that is a classic marriage with game dishes; it is a particularly long-lived wine with a dark robe and somber mien; a great wine

Pommard 1er Cru "Les Rugiens":

this vineyard, considered by many to be the finest in Pommard, is on a steep slope with a south/southeast exposure; again, very stony soil composition with a firm underpinning of iron; the resulting wine is deeply colored, quite tannic, rich, powerful, and very long in the finish with notes of violets and licorice to the nose; very robust with a long life ahead.  

Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chenes"

again, one of the finest of the lieu-dits in Volnay with south/southeast exposure on soil with a touch more clay found in the subsoil; as rich as the Pommards but with a more delicate character with floral notes and elements of the forest undergrowth to the nose and less tannin in the background than the most ferocious of the Pommards; this wine will age gracefully and will develop a complex character defined by truffles and violets in the bouquet.  

Beaune 1er Cru "Clos des Mouches":

from perhaps the great vineyard of the appellation, bordering on Pommard, on brown soils in the heart of the slope facing east/southeast; bright red color, red fruits dominated by strawberry and raspberry notes; round, the most approachable of the 1er Crus but with its great balance and elegance a wine that will give pleasure for many years.