2010 Pommard

Jean-Marc Boillot, who has always preferred to make fresh, clean wines with moderate levels of alcohol, picked early in 2010, beginning on September 15, with potential alcohol levels between 12% and 12.5% (the wines were chaptalized to 12.8% or 13%). He rejected some underripe grapes but told me that he hasn't had problems with rot since 2007 and 2008. The pHs here are a moderate 3.4 to 3.45. "People like tasty wines," he said. "With the 2010s, acidity is present but it brings length and freshness and doesn't harden the tannins, which are silky in this vintage." Yields here were down 25% to 45% from 2009 levels according to appellation. The 2010s had been in tank since late October, racked and sulfited. Boillot was planning to start his fining trials soon and thought that fining would be positive for the precision of his wines, "if it works." (Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL)