The Comte Armand Estate
A historic property in full evolution
THECount Armand Estateis located in the center of the village ofPommardin Burgundy. It is also calledDomaine des Epeneauxfor its famous plot ofClos des Epeneauxplanted on 5 hectares by Nicolas Marey at the end of the 18th century. Until 1828, the estate was called Fief de Rancy, before coming under the control of thefamily of Count ArmandDomaine Comte Armand expanded from 1994 onwards, with new parcels in Volnay and Auxey-Duresses. Throughout its history, the estate has had various cellar masters, each leaving their mark. In 1985, the Canadian Pascal Marchand brought the estate into the public eye.biodynamicsand his successor Benjamin Leroux continued his work until 2014. Today,Olivier Armandowns the 9 hectares of vineyards andPaul ZinettiThe current cellar master supports him in what the owner calls the estate's "profession of faith." They wish to give a new, more contemporary feel to the production without betraying the past heritage.
The vineyards of Domaine Comte Armand
The exceptional Clos des Epeneaux
The 9 hectares ofCount Armand Estateextend over clay-limestone soil. The 5 hectares ofClos des EpeneauxThey represent one of the ten largest monopolies in Premier Cru or Grand Cru Burgundy. The vines range in age from 30 to 80 years, and yields are deliberately limited. Furthermore, thebiodynamicsNatural methods are practiced on the estate, and no herbicides or synthetic molecules are used. Tilling is carried out to ensure soil quality, and the reintroduction of medicinal plants, beehives, and fruit trees helps maintain the health of the vineyard through simple natural herbal teas made from nettles or dandelions. Vineyard work follows the lunar cycles.Count Armand EstateA team of around sixty people work with passion to bring out the best in the terroir. In total, 42,000 bottles are produced each year, 18,000 of which are for Clos des Epeneaux. While the majority of the production is red, the estate also makes two white wines from 1 hectare of vines in Volnay.
The wines of Domaine Comte Armand
Experience as a guarantee of quality
After extensive work on the quality of the grapes in the vineyard, thequest for perfectionThe winemaking process continues in the cellar. The harvest is entirely destemmed and no crushing takes place. The berries then undergo a pre-fermentation maceration of 5 to 8 days at 13-14°C. Alcoholic fermentation then occurs for 5 to 10 days. The young wine completes its cycle with a post-fermentation maceration of 3 to 15 days, depending on the vintage. In total, the three phases extend over 4 weeks, which is long for the traditional Burgundian method. Aging takes place in barrels, up to 30% of which are new oak, for 18 to 24 months, depending on the age of the vines and the appellation. The majority of the wines of theCount Armand EstateThey undergo neither gluing nor filtration in order to reveal their full authenticity.
Wines fromClos des EpeneauxThese wines are both powerful and refined, representing the finest expression of the region's flagship grape variety. Their spicy notes are characteristic of this particular plot. The Auxey-Duresses wines are more fruit-forward and can be enjoyed at a younger age. The wines produced from the Volnay vineyards possess the delicacy and elegance typical of the appellation. Finally, the two white wines stand out for their freshness.
