As ever we tasted the component parts before the blend which averaged 33 hl/ha overall, with beautiful, healthy grapes very few of which had suffered from sunburn. Here is my note on the blend: Purple with just a trace of black. The nose needs teasing out. This is more tightly knit than the individual cuvées. As much black fruit as red and with time the density begins to show, along with some spicy notes at the rim. Very intense finish, tannin swathed in noble deep red fruit. 93-95 points

The 2018 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 1er Cru was tasted from the four component blends and an assemblage. I must say that although I would like to have reported about the obvious difference between parcels of various vine age and soil types, I would describe them more as variations on a theme, the differences more nuanced than I have found in other vintages. The final pre-prepared blend has a delineated bouquet of blackberry, raspberry and cranberry scents, more floral than expected, with pressed rose petals and orange blossom emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and the 30% new oak extremely well integrated, with savory hints toward the persistent finish. This is just superb. 93-95 points

Cask sample. Quite a price! Transparent crimson. Very dense nose with more layers than most of the 2018 red burgundies I have tasted so far. Pretty rich with grand cru density. Very well done. Actually the best Clos des Epeneaux I remember tasting en primeur. Long, rich, opulent but all in a convincing structure. Very long in fact. 18.5 points