Some projects are both fascinating and much more complex than originally expected … such a project is Château de la Commaraine.
I will reference a part of the intro from my article about Commaraine … just to set the scene …
Background
Pommard has a classical historic ambiance with most of the houses and walled vineyards kept intact to give the visitors a peaceful and mind settling experience.
I love Pommard with its petite square – seductive and with a romantic yet slightly exotic feel – this village has something special.
While Pommard has a good historic presence, it has been overlooked by wine collectors for many years …. but now, the newly styled Pommards seem to be captivating collectors.
The houses and estates are now getting rebuilt to make the most of the beautiful settings and the short distance to Beaune.
One such estate is the beautiful fairytale estate La Commaraine
Château de la Commaraine
Clos de la Commaraine is a Pommard 1er Cru located just outside the center of the village of Pommard. A prominent estate by all standards, with a beautiful château located in the southern part of the vineyard – adjacent to the village.
Since 2017, the estate has been owned by Harvard professor Denise Dupré and Mark Nunnelly, ex-managing director of the Boston-based Bain Capital investment fund. With them, they have Jean-Luc Vitoux, who is currently a French investor and Directeur of Commaraine.
Furthermore, Comte Louis-Michel Liger-Belair of Château de Vosne-Romanée has entered an agreement with the owners of Pommard Clos de la Commaraine to help with the making of the wine from this historic 3.75 ha monopole vineyard.
The estate … the beauty and the future hotel
The Commaraine is located wide open, seen from the Beaune vineyards yet it is somehow in a blind spot of the village of Pommard. The beauty is hidden within the village just waiting to unfold … and on the vineyard side, it is already showing its beauty and potential splendor.
The Hotel … a beauty waiting to unfold
The project has two main parts – one is to establish the image of the Commaraine wine, secondly, the owners want to put Burgundy and Pommard on the map with a top-end hotel – only a short distance from the core of Beaune…
The buildings do need some restoring and rebuilding … but the potential is there and will in a few years unfold in a 33-room Hotel with a high-quality restaurant.
The quiet château has started its rebuilding from an old estate to a top-end hotel. This will take some time … as the people behind this project are doing things the right way with respect to the historic values of the old buildings.
Clos de la Commaraine the vineyard
Clos de la Commaraine is a true Clos with walls and a beautiful château enclosing the 3.75 ha monopole.
The vineyard is located just north of the Pommard village, with the Château located on the northern border of the village – and the wall-enclosed vineyard extending to the north of the village – see map below.
The vineyard encompasses one large cadastre plot (000 BE 28) with an area of 3.7450 ha – and this includes the park in front of the Château and the gardens located on the southern border of the estate.
Now, back to the current Pommard and the estate
Now, almost 5 years have passed, and after a lot of technical challenges with the buildings, things are starting to take shape and form.
In charge of the wine making is Paul Krug, a champagne native, with a background in the geology research at Pedro Parra and in vinification at Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. Louis-Michel Liger-Belair is still advising … and the style of the Commaraine is gradually being refined.
The wine portfolio has been expanded with a nice selection of vineyards, and wines that would suit to accommodate the hotel at Commaraine. This is a long term project … and all is done very thoroughly… just see the involvement of Pedro Parra … this is not taking the fast or easy way … it’s doing it correctly!
From the beginning, there was more than a hint of Liger-Belair impressions in the wines. This has perhaps been turned down a notch … but we still have a hint … and that is not so bad in my view.
Domaine de la Commaraine Saint Aubin, Les Murgers des Dents de Chien 2023
A large cuvée with quite some oak present currently … or at least it appears this way. A mineral wine and white, quite some intensity. Will work well with many fish dishes, although it’s a bit too powerful for oysters naturel. Love this vineyard … a wine for the Pommard lunch.
(Drink From 2030) – Very Good – (90p) – 
Domaine de la Commaraine Meursault Santenots 2023
The Meursault Santenots is more refined and less “brutal” than the Murgers des Dents. It’s quite rich with a delicate fruit that will work with all fish dishes and poultry. Very fresh and delicate juicy fruit … vin d’émotion.
(Drink From 2030) – Very Good – (91p) – 
Domaine de la Commaraine Chambolle-Musigny Les Condemennes 2023
A lovely Chambolle … very good phenolic ripeness. It’s perfumed … and de-stemmed … with a delicate fruit … medium toasty … very elegant. Lovely freshness. A gorgeous wine.
(Drink From 2032) – Very Good – (90p) –
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Filed Under: Article, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Pommard Clos de la Commaraine, Prem
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