Pommard Premier Cru 'Les Epenots', Philippe Pacalet, 2023

Following our world-first last year with our sell-out exclusive barrel, the Pacalet’s have once again allowed us exclusive access to their cellars and following a tasting in Burgundy with Hospices Syndicate Members, we’ve selected the gorgeous Pommard 1er Cru des Epenots for our next crowdfunded barrel project.

This will be a ‘tete de cuvée’, the best of the best, featuring a special label exclusively for Honest Grapes Club Members. The whole range was excellent and 2023 is a vintage which plays to Philippe’s style perfectly. The reds have spent a slightly extended period in barrel which has led to a little more complexity and finesse and these can be enjoyed young as well as mature, as is most often the case with Philippe’s wines, thanks to their seamless balance and harmony.

Pacalet’s approach to whole-bunch fermentation has always been eccentric and in 2023 this very much plays to his strength, showcasing refinement and seamless integration. With only 5% new oak employed, the wines maintain a delicate balance, focusing on fruit expression and terroir. Reds spent an extended 14–16 months in barrel, lending complexity and finesse without over-extraction. While not a high-acidity year, the whites shine with freshness and depth, and the reds balance elegance with structure, offering nuanced profiles that will reward both early enjoyment and further aging.

"Limestone-clay; located on the foothills of the Pommard hill, it faces south. The soil is made up of a mixture of red clay and pebbles. Notes of blackberries, spices, wild strawberries. Smooth, structured; retro-olfaction leaves a touch of violets. Rich, elegant with gorgeous freshness."
Philippe Pacalet

"From 50-year-old vines planted on mid-slope clay soils, combining 10% Petit Epenots with Grands Epenots. Deep cherry hue with an expressive nose of sweet fruit, allspice, and floral notes. The palate reveals crunchy red fruit, balanced acidity, hints of liquorice, fine tannins, and exceptional length. A complete and elegant wine."
Nathan Hill, Honest Grapes Co-founder