In Pommard, Domaine de Courcel stands as one of the historic great signatures of the Côte de Beaune, with an exceptional heritage of Premier Cru vineyards. Renowned for deep, structured and age-worthy wines, the domaine expresses the great terroirs of Grand Clos des Épenots, Rugiens, Frémiers and Croix Noires with intensity and precision.

Domaine de Courcel — The Deep Nobility of Great Pommard

Established in Pommard for several centuries, Domaine de Courcel is one of the most respected historic estates of the Côte de Beaune. Its identity rests on a rare heritage of Premier Cru vineyards, strong family continuity and a wine style deeply attached to structure, ripeness and longevity.

The domaine is particularly renowned for Pommard Premier Cru Grand Clos des Épenots, an emblematic monopole and the historic heart of the estate. Alongside Rugiens, Frémiers and Croix Noires, it expresses an exacting vision of Pommard: dense, straight, deep wines built to reveal themselves over time.

History: a historic lineage in the heart of Pommard

The de Courcel family has been linked to Pommard since the 17th century. This rare continuity in Burgundy gives the domaine a deeply patrimonial identity, built on transmission, intimate knowledge of the climats and a constant loyalty to the character of the village.

The estate remains today in the hands of the family’s descendants, including Anne Bommelaer, Marie de Courcel, Constance de Leusse and Édouard de Courcel. This family permanence preserves a long-term vision, essential for wines whose personality is built over many years.

Since the 1990s, technical direction has been entrusted to Yves Confuron, an important figure in Burgundian vinification. His approach, based on fully achieved ripeness, long macerations and patient ageing, has reinforced the domaine’s identity around structured, deep and age-worthy wines.

Terroir: the great climats of Pommard

The vineyard of Domaine de Courcel covers around 10.5 hectares, entirely located in Pommard. The domaine owns a remarkable proportion of Premier Cru parcels, among the finest red-wine expressions of the Côte de Beaune.

Grand Clos des Épenots, a 4.86-hectare monopole, is the domaine’s great signature. It produces complete, deep and structured wines, able to combine the strength of Pommard with remarkable elegance of texture.

Rugiens brings greater power, tension and earthy depth, while Frémiers offers a finer, more floral expression, more approachable in youth. Croix Noires completes this ensemble with a darker, more structured and complex personality.

Viticulture and vinification: ripeness, precision and patience

Vineyard work is based on exacting practices: traditional ploughing, no chemical weedkillers, close observation of each parcel and naturally limited yields. Harvesting is carried out by hand, with a search for full ripeness, particularly at the phenolic level.

In the cellar, vinification favours long macerations, slow fermentations and measured extraction. Ageing generally lasts 18 to 22 months in French oak barrels, with a proportion of new oak adapted to each cuvée. Bottling is carried out with precision, preserving the substance, structure and natural depth of the wines.

Wine style

The wines of Domaine de Courcel are defined by seriousness, density and great ageing capacity. In youth, they can appear firm, with marked tannins, deep substance and a dark aromatic profile built around black fruits, cherry, violet, spices and warm earth.

With time, the finest vintages gain harmony, complexity and aromatic breadth. Notes of forest floor, truffle, fine leather, liquorice, patinated black fruits and sweet spices gradually emerge, while preserving the straightness and energy typical of great Pommard.

Emblematic cuvées

Ageing and gastronomic pairings

The great Pommard wines of Domaine de Courcel often need time to fully reveal themselves. The Premiers Crus can evolve for 15 to 25 years, sometimes longer in great vintages and large formats.

At the table, these wines pair beautifully with roast poultry, duck, veal, braised beef, feathered game, mushrooms, truffle, reduced sauces, slow-cooked dishes and mature cheeses. Mature vintages are best served with deep yet refined dishes, able to respect their structure and complexity.