Benjamin Leroux, Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens Hauts 2021 (1x75cl)

Premier cru Pinot Noir from Les Rugiens-Hauts in Pommard, on Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. Pommard is usually the sturdier, darker fruited end of red Burgundy compared with its neighbours, and Rugiens is one of the names serious Burgundy drinkers look for on a label.

Save it for a proper dinner — duck, game, or beef — and give it some time in the glass. A bottle that lands well as a gift for someone who follows Burgundy closely.

Tasting notes

Pommard premier cru typically shows dark cherry and black plum with earth and spice, firmer tannins than most red Burgundy, and it usually needs time in the glass or in the cellar to open.