Domaine de Courcel – Four Centuries of Heritage at the Summit of Pommard

A historic lineage anchored in the heart of the Côte de Beaune

Established in Pommard in the 17th century, the de Courcel family stands among the oldest winegrowing lineages in Burgundy. For over four hundred years, this exceptional estate has upheld an artisanal vision rooted in rigor, terroir fidelity and generational transmission.

Today, the property remains in the hands of direct descendants — Anne Bommelaer, Marie de Courcel, Constance de Leusse and Édouard de Courcel — ensuring a rare continuity in the region. Since the 1990s, technical direction has been entrusted to Yves Confuron, a leading figure in Burgundian winemaking, known for his ripe maturities, long macerations and structured, timeless aesthetic.

Terroirs & Climats – An elite viticultural heritage in Pommard

The Domaine de Courcel vineyard covers approximately 10.5 hectares, entirely situated on Pommard’s most noble terroirs. It is centered on prestigious climats, some of which rank among the greatest red wine sites of the Côte de Beaune:

Iconic Premier Crus

• Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots – Monopole (4.86 ha)
  The estate’s mythical parcel and its historical heart.
• Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens (1.07 ha)
  One of Burgundy’s most revered red-wine terroirs.
• Pommard 1er Cru Les Frémiers (0.79 ha)
  A more accessible climat, marked by refined finesse.
• Pommard 1er Cru Les Croix Noires (0.58 ha)
  Depth, structure and strong personality.

Other appellations

• Pommard “Les Vaumuriens”
• Bourgogne Pinot Noir
• Bourgogne Chardonnay

All parcels are farmed with extreme precision: traditional ploughing, no chemical herbicides, detailed observation of plant development, naturally low yields (often 20–25 hl/ha) and late harvesting at full phenolic maturity.

Viticulture & Philosophy – Precision, maturity and uncompromising standards

The guiding principle of Domaine de Courcel is clear: let the terroir express itself without compromise, seeking depth, rectitude and longevity rather than immediacy or flamboyance.

• respectful soil management,
• strict pruning to maintain very low yields,
• late manual harvesting at full ripeness,
• meticulous sorting, cluster by cluster,
• no aggressive extraction — structure must come from the fruit, not technique.

This pursuit of complete maturity shapes wines that are dense, powerful and aristocratically structured, built to age for many decades.

Winemaking & Ageing – Long macerations and patience in the cellar

The domaine’s style is fully revealed in the cellar, where Yves Confuron applies a unique method in Pommard:

Vinification

• long macerations, often preceded by cold pre-fermentation,
• slow, low-temperature fermentations,
• gentle extraction: restrained punch-downs, limited pump-overs,
• parcel-by-parcel vinification to preserve identity.

Ageing

• 18 to 22 months in French oak barrels,
• around 30% new oak, depending on the cuvée,
• no fining,
• no filtration before bottling.

This extended élevage polishes the tannins, highlights the mineral spine and shapes wines designed for very long ageing.

Wine Style – Density, rectitude and elevation

Domaine de Courcel wines are immediately recognisable for their serious architecture and depth:

• firm, ripe, upright tannins,
• deep mineral structure, a hallmark of Pommard’s greatest terroirs,
• noble concentration without heaviness,
• refined, dark aromatics: black fruit, violet, spices, warm earth,
• a long, austere, race-carved youth,
• remarkable ageing potential: 15 to 25 years, often more for top vintages.

These are serious, demanding wines that blossom magnificently with time, revealing striking complexity and depth.

Key Cuvées

Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots – Monopole
The estate’s signature wine: intensity, elegance, structure and length. A monumental expression of Pommard and one of the Côte de Beaune’s greatest reds.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens
Power, tension and mineral depth. A revered terroir, rendered here with particular precision and gravitas.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Frémiers
A more approachable expression in youth: fine texture, floral bouquet and precise length.

Pommard 1er Cru Les Croix Noires
A structured, complex wine with deep personality and layered aromatic intensity.

Pommard “Les Vaumuriens”
Fresh, straight and vertical — a more immediate reading of the Courcel style while retaining the domaine’s mineral tension.

Conclusion – A benchmark for ageworthy Pommard

With a production of around 30,000 bottles per year, a vineyard entirely rooted in Pommard and a style unlike any other on the Côte de Beaune, Domaine de Courcel stands as one of the region’s timeless pillars. These wines — profound, structured and built for the long term — are sought after by discerning collectors and enthusiasts seeking the most authentic and enduring expressions of Pommard.