The 2010 Pommard Vieilles Vignes (from tank) comes across as quite boisterous. Freshly cut flowers, juicy red berries and spices are framed by firm yet well-integrated tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. This is another excellent set of wines from the resurgent Domaine Newman. The wines were made with fully destemmed fruit. New oak topped out at 50% for the Mazis and 60% for the Bonnes Mares. Most of the wines were in bottle at the time of my tasting in early December 2011. As good as the 2010s are, I have a preference for the 2009s. The star of the show remains the Monthelie. For now, it seems the two Grand Crus are still somewhat works in progress. The wines are delicious, but not up to the pedigree of their lofty appellations.Importer: Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300

The 2009 Pommard Vieilles Vignes suffers in being tasted after the Monthelies. One the one hand, it is a terrific wine for its appellation, but at the same time, some rough edges remain. It shows plenty of intensity and textural richness for a village-level Pommard. Only some slight angular contours on the finish keep the score from going higher. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. Domaine Newman is one of the more interesting stories I have come across in Burgundy. For several decades American proprietor Chris Newman lost full control of his family’s vineyards, including the crown jewel parcels in Bonnes-Mares and Mazis-Chambertin. A few years ago Newman reclaimed those vineyards and began focusing on organic farming and making high quality wines. It will take some time for the vineyards, especially the grand crus, to recover from several decades of industrial farming, but the wines I tasted from more recently purchased vineyards Newman has fully controlled for longer are very promising, including two spectacular Monthelies. Newman sold a parcel in Latricieres-Chambertin to buy his vineyard in Monthelie, which sounds crazy?until you taste the wines. Savvy readers will want to focus on the mid-level wines, which is where the real excitement lies, at least today.Importer: Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300