Maison Bouchard's 1997 Pommard Rugiens is crafted from 11-12 year old vines, it is ruby/purple-colored and displays licorice and cassis jam aromas. This hyper-ripe, licorice, asphalt, and black pepper-flavored effort is dense and concentrated. It possesses Pommard's characteristic foursquare personality, with a ripe but firm structure that suggests the need for cellaring. However, my inclination would be to serve it with a juicy grilled steak over the course of the next 6+ years.
Importer: Clicquot, Inc., New York, NY; tel (212) 888-7575.