Pierrick Bouley is a young and highly regarded winemaker based in Volnay in the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, representing a new generation of growers blending precision with a low intervention philosophy. Since taking over family vineyards in the early 2000s, he has moved towards biodynamic practices (currently uncertified), having eliminated chemical treatments in the vineyard since 2003. His focus is on expressing the purity of old vines and individual parcels through careful, minimal winemaking. The Pommard 2022 comes from three tiny parcels, including Les Chanlins and Les Lamblins, covering just 0.5 hectares in total. The vines are exceptionally old, ranging from 60 to 90 years, rooted in classic Pommard “terres blanches” soils, a mix of limestone-rich white marl and clay situated high on the hillside near Volnay. The 2022 vintage was warm and generous in Burgundy, producing ripe, supple fruit while retaining balance and freshness in well sited vineyards such as these.
This Pinot Noir reflects Pierrick Bouley’s clean, precise approach to winemaking. All the grapes are fully destemmed to preserve elegance and a silky texture, then fermented with native yeasts. Remarkably, no sulfur is added during vinification or élevage, with only a minimal addition at bottling. The wine is aged for around 12 months in French oak barrels, with approximately 10–30% new oak depending on the vintage and is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2022 Pommard is notably generous and plush for the appellation, showing aromas of black cherry, plum blossom, ripe red berries, subtle spice and a hint of licorice. The palate is rich and layered, more supple than traditionally structured Pommard, with old vine depth, smooth tannins and a long, saline, mineral finish. It is drinking well now with a short decant but will evolve over 6–10 years. Critics and enthusiasts, often described as a “super village-level Pommard with outstanding purity and texture for the vintage.”