Last week pulled these two wines from the depths of my cellar.

My last bottle of Voyager CSM 1997 and the Domaine de Courcel 2000

Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1997
Domaine de Courcel – Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots 2000

First the Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1997
This was purchased many years ago and stored at Guardsman Fine Wine Storage in Myaree until I put my own temperature controlled wine room in. Worth the wait, this wine has developed into a beautifully balanced wine, with the oak integrating and softening to the point where it is just noticeable. The Nose has hints of forrest floor and the palate has developed flavours of mushroom almost truffle like in intensity and there is still red and black fruits on the palate with a long and lingering finish, had to be quick as this was drunk at a friends BBQ and I was not the only one enjoying it.

Domaine de Courcel – Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Épenots 2000
This one surprised, not only was it still drinking very well, there was also a good level of richness and complexity on the palate. After reading Clive Cotes “The Wines of Burgundy”
“The domaine owns a large slice of Epenots, just on the Beaune side of the Clos des Epeneaux, which they label as the Grand Clos des Epenots.  But their best wine in their Rugiens, one of the best examples of this top Pommand.  This wine is proof that Rugiens should be a worthy contender for grand cru status.”

I thought I had bought the wrong wine and should have invested in the Rugiens instead, but no, this was a great wine and I can see why the village of Pommard has such a good name.

Voyager Estate