Henri Royer-Lebon was a négoce business based in Beaune, but a great vintage and a good vineyard apparently is a good foil to lack of renown. So there you have it – forget its masculine name-tag BS and buy as much 2005 Pommard as you can find, then drink between 2035-2045 with your iPuppy and iGeisha. It seems that I’m already getting too old for this game, but hopefully the corks will last that long even if I don’t!

1978 Henri Royer-Lebon, Pommard 1er Pézerolles
Bright medium. medium-plus red mahogany colour. The nose is very clean, showing both width and depth, initially a depth of prune overlaid with strawberry preserve and a hint of chocolate – a great start. Lovely in the mouth, just slightly plush but borne on a carpet of fine acidity that really slides you through a mid-palate ‘pop’ of red fruit before prolonging a finish whose final note is of a bitter chocolate. Tannin can be found, but only if you chew long enough. Despite its silken grace this is a wine of minerality that is far from decline – it might still improve!
Rebuy – No Chance!