Famille Carabello-Baum and Château de Pommard are thrilled to release the 2020 vintage of the estate's most exceptional cuvée: Simone. Born from a remarkable terroir of just 0.53 hectares, this prestigious wine embodies what the iconic Burgundy winery does best. With only 1,800 bottles produced in the most generous years, Simone is the family's rarest cuvée, only available on allocation.
The delicacy, intensity, and structure of a red wine strongly depend on the quality of the density of clay in the soil. The higher the internal density, the more a vineyard can produce grand cuvées. Simone holds a record with an internal surface density of 736 square meters per gram, higher than some of the greatest Grands Crus of the region. Certified organic, Simone 2020 is a delicate and vibrant Pinot Noir revealing all the complexity of a great Burgundy wine.
"Producing a wine like Simone is an experience like no other. I intervene as little as possible. The wine reveals its full potential on its own, almost like a magic trick," noted Paul Negrerie, winemaker for Château de Pommard and Famille Carabello-Baum.
In 2016, Château de Pommard began its biodynamic journey in the Clos Marey-Monge, a 20-hectare monopole in Burgundy's Côte d'Or region. Starting with Simone, horses have replaced machines, chemicals are banned, and in their place all-natural preparations are used. Simone's vines are more robust, demonstrating vigor and the ability to fight pests and diseases on their own. Seven years into the conversion, the wines are purer and more energetic, displaying extra intensity on the nose and vibration on the palate.
Simone 2020
"Powerful and complex, our Simone 2020 is a deep ruby color with hints of violet. The nose is bursting with energy, distilling a captivating aromatic bouquet of fresh roses, black fruits and graphite. The palate is fresh and vibrant. The tight tannic structure is velvety, with a long, vibrant and slightly saline finish. This special cuvée will express the same energy for the next 35 years."
The Simone Awards
Each year, Château de Pommard and the Simone Awards Board honor and celebrate women who are committed to making a difference in today’s world. The 2022 Simone Awards winners are five inspiring women engaged in three different causes.
Diane Dupré de la Tour is the founder of Les Petites Cantines, a French non-profit network of neighborhood canteens where people can meet and talk while having sustainable meals at the price they choose to pay.
Dr Deborah McCauley founded VIEW (Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife) in 2012 with the ambition to create efficient and sustainable wildlife conservation programs. She has won numerous global leadership awards including the 2017 Ashoka Fellowship and the Emily Couric Women’s Leadership Award in 2019.
Victoria James, Amy Zhou, and Cynthia Cheng co-founded Wine Empowered, a non-profit organization aiming to inspire professional growth and empower women and minorities in the hospitality industry in order to diversify leadership roles in the industry.
10% of the profits on the sales of Château de Pommard's Simone 2019 will be donated to the 2022 Simone Awards laureates' causes. Nominations for the 2023 Simone Awards are now open: www.simoneawards.com/nominations.