February 17, 2025
A prestigious single-vineyard plot surrounded by walls (although the walls may no longer be there), but where are they all. Pommery Les Clos Pompadour 2003
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After making a fortune in the wool industry, Mr Pommery was in fragile health in 1856 and decided to retire. However, destiny had a twist, Madame Pommery fell pregnant at 38 and needing to provide for Louise, Mr Pommery moved into the champagne business that was booming. Two years later he died; the rest is history: the young widow Pommery took over the champagne business and led it on to success and glory. Madam Pommery died in 1890 and for the next hundred years it was owned by a succession of people. In 1991 LVMH purchased Pommery, selling it in 2002 to Vranken Monopole Group while keeping hold of much of the highly sort after Pommery portfolio of Grand Cru vineyards. Today the Pommery Estate in Reims stretches to 50 hectares of glorious gardens, tourists love the underground world some 18 kms of cellars with art displays in a large section of the cellars Madam Pommery had constructed in 1868.
Les Clos Pompadour, is the single largest clos in champagne, some 25 hectares are nestled in within the city walls of Reims with an impressive 2 metre high wall surrounding the entire vineyard. The vineyard sits above their cellars and Pommery are one of the Maison’s with these 30-40 meter tall crayeres or "cathedrals" such incredibly impressive structures built between the 2nd and 5th century, mostly it is believed to provide masonry for the construction of Reims. The cellars of Pommery, Ruinart, Taittinger and Charles Heidsieck all have these amazing crayeres and since 2015 they are listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Clos over the top of the deep chalk cellars were planted mainly in the 1960’s with over two thirds chardonnay. As a champagne this is a relative newcomer, the first vintage was 2002, technically a NV, but it is all 2002 and the intention of the cellar master is to make the champagne, only in magnum, every year
Weather: The 2003 vintage was one of pre-eminence: a year like no other, defined by extremes. The vineyard was first touched by severe spring frosts that left a lasting mark on the Champagne region before being struck with an unparalleled heatwave. As a result, the crop was perfectly ripe and healthy but left a particularly small harvest: this was the most precocious since 1822.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Chardonnay: Avize, Cramant | Pinot Noir: Aÿ
Grape Varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir & 5% Meunier
Lees Ageing: 15 years
Disgorged: June 2019
Dosage: 8 g/l
Drink: Now to 2035
Production: 108 Magnums (in wooden box)
Tasting Note: A great minerality and a lot of freshness. The odd spicy note enhanced by a hint of lemon gives it that certain refreshing and mischievous touch. On the palate, a touch of white fruit such as apples, and pears too, combined with floral notes of hawthorn. It manages to be soft and silky, reaching a very lively finish
Les Clos Pompadour, is the single largest clos in champagne, some 25 hectares are nestled in within the city walls of Reims with an impressive 2 metre high wall surrounding the entire vineyard. The vineyard sits above their cellars and Pommery are one of the Maison’s with these 30-40 meter tall crayeres or "cathedrals" such incredibly impressive structures built between the 2nd and 5th century, mostly it is believed to provide masonry for the construction of Reims. The cellars of Pommery, Ruinart, Taittinger and Charles Heidsieck all have these amazing crayeres and since 2015 they are listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Clos over the top of the deep chalk cellars were planted mainly in the 1960’s with over two thirds chardonnay. As a champagne this is a relative newcomer, the first vintage was 2002, technically a NV, but it is all 2002 and the intention of the cellar master is to make the champagne, only in magnum, every year
Weather: The 2003 vintage was one of pre-eminence: a year like no other, defined by extremes. The vineyard was first touched by severe spring frosts that left a lasting mark on the Champagne region before being struck with an unparalleled heatwave. As a result, the crop was perfectly ripe and healthy but left a particularly small harvest: this was the most precocious since 1822.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Chardonnay: Avize, Cramant | Pinot Noir: Aÿ
Grape Varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir & 5% Meunier
Lees Ageing: 15 years
Disgorged: June 2019
Dosage: 8 g/l
Drink: Now to 2035
Production: 108 Magnums (in wooden box)
Tasting Note: A great minerality and a lot of freshness. The odd spicy note enhanced by a hint of lemon gives it that certain refreshing and mischievous touch. On the palate, a touch of white fruit such as apples, and pears too, combined with floral notes of hawthorn. It manages to be soft and silky, reaching a very lively finish
