2016 Albert Bichot Pommard Domaine du Pavillon Clos des Ursulines Monopole 750 ml

Albert Bichot’s Clos des Ursulines is the rare single-vineyard Burgundy that delivers serious value in tandem with exceptional pedigree. In one sip, it highlights why Burgundy has been the standard-bearer for Pinot Noir for over 1,000 years… and why no region truly rivals this French icon.

Sensual and effusive on the nose, Bichot’s 2016 sheds its delicacy on the palate revealing a warrior-like structure built around a core of earthy, just-picked red fruits. Wild strawberry, raspberry, and cherry meld with turned earth, chanterelle mushrooms, dried thyme, and oregano before well-integrated tannins drive the long finish. 

The lasting image is impressive, leading Wine Enthusiast to note “While not classified as a Premier Cru, the vineyard… performs seriously,” in a glowing and uncharacteristic 93-point review. It’s no surprise, considering this release hails from a landmark vintage even the notoriously restrained Master of Wine Jancis Robinson summarized as “seriously delicious.” 

Situated at the Southern end of Pommard, Clos des Ursulines’ 9-acres feature a mix of soils— the clay and marl prized in neighboring, pricey Volnay with the signature iron-rich dirt of Pommard. The combination of terroirs in this picturesque haven yields a red that seamlessly combines the prized elegance, lacy texture, and power of $100+ Burgundy for significantly less.

The site is a “monopole,” the Burgundian term denoting a vineyard completely farmed an vinified by one owner. In this case, it’s the famed Albérice Bichot, ensuring exceptional farming and precise vineyard management that more closely resembles Napa’s high-tech winery landscape more than the classic, rustic Burgundian cellar. 

Albéric, refuses to rest on the laurels of this historic terrain. Albéric introduced organic viticulture in the family’s vineyards and continues to push the envelope on quality. Organic farming in this part of the Côte de Beaune is still decidedly rare, but his efforts are clear in every sip of this beautiful Pommard.

At the Southern limit of Pommard, the 30- to 40-year-old vines of Clos des Ursulines spider into clay soils swirled with the white marls that lend. the wine its airy delicacy and gentle floral aromatics. Within, pockets of iron give the 2016 its structure and power—the classic indicators of a Pommard wine—lending the 2016 quite literally the best qualities of both villages. 

Hand-harvested and fermented completely in French oak barriques, the 2016 is lent baking spice notes including clove and dried herbs as a result of 14-16 months of aging in partial new oak.

Though 2016 Burgundy might go down as one of the greatest vintages of the last decade, a devastating frost ensured that only a fraction of the crop was able to benefit from it. And while that was great for the concentrated quality of the few grapes that did make it into the bottle, it also means that just a few dozen cases of Bichot’s Clos des Ursulines were imported to the US. 

An incredible Burgundy from the first sip, this is one 2016 to grab by the while you still can.