Vaucher Père et Fils – Pommard 1980

Vaucher Père et Fils – Pommard 1980

1. Summary

The bottle in question is a Pommard from Vaucher Père et Fils, vintage 1980. The house was founded by the former French rowing champion, André Vaucher, and specialises in high-quality Burgundy wines . The 1980 vintage is described as mixed for northern Burgundy – with uneven quality and a growing season characterised by cold weather. Specific notes on this particular wine can be found in auction catalogues, which list it with an estimate of €30–40 per bottle or €90–100 for three bottles.

2. Historical background: The Vaucher Père et Fils estate

The Vaucher Père et Filsestate was founded by André Vaucher, a Burgundian born in Chambolle-Musigny. André Vaucher was initially a successful sportsman: in 1927, he became French rowing champion. Following his sporting career, he devoted himself entirely to his second passion, wine, and founded a wine merchant’s firm (négociant) specialising in the great wines of Burgundy.

The firm maintained close ties with the finest Domaines de Bourgogne and renowned restaurants, and established itself as a specialist in high-quality Burgundy wines. A particular testament to the high regard in which his wines were held is a letter from the famous French writer Colette, who congratulated André Vaucher on his marvellous wines.

To this day, the house adheres to the philosophy of allowingwines to matureaccording to Burgundian tradition and of nurturing every bottle for as long as it needs. It is committed to the terroir of the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune and respects the diversity of the Burgundian climats.

3. The 1980 vintage in Pommard

The 1980 vintage proved a challengefor Burgundy reds, and for Pommard in particular :

• Weather conditions: A cold New Year and a cold spring delayed the vines’ budbreak. Winegrowers who harvested late achieved the best results.

• Quality: The quality of the vintage is described as uneven. The wine was considered very closed in its youth , but has great ageing potential.

• Characteristics: Pommard wines are known for their firmness and tannic structure when young. As they mature, they gain in finesse and elegance. The 1980 is regarded as one of the more solid wines of the vintage.

4. Characteristics of the wine: Pommard by Vaucher

The bottle of Vaucher Père et Fils – Pommard 1980in question is a red wine made from the Pinot Noir grape variety .

• Appellation: Pommard AOC (without Premier Cru classification, unless otherwise stated).

• Style: A classic red wine from the Côte de Beaune with typical aromas of red fruit.

• Maturity: After over 40 years of bottle ageing, the wine is now at an advanced stage. A tasting note on another Vaucher Pommard (vintage unspecified) describes a mature, transparent garnet colour with a nose of plums, raisins and a hint of port. This suggests significant oxidative development, which is typical of wines of this age.

5. Market availability and value

The specific combination ofVaucher Père et Fils – Pommard 1980 can only be found on the public market in auction catalogues. The following references provide a concrete guide:

These estimates range from approximately €30–35 per standard bottle (0.75 l). These are auction estimates which may reflect the actual hammer price, but depend on the condition of the bottles.

Important note: In the auction catalogues, the producer is listed as ‘ETS VAUCHER’ (Établissements Vaucher). This suggests that this is a merchant’s wine (Négociant) sourced from and bottled by Vaucher – which was standard practice for this company.

6. Distinctive features and condition assessment

With a bottle of this age (over 45 years), the condition of the bottleis the decisive factor for enjoyment and value:

• Liquid level: A level below the neck or in the shoulder may indicate evaporation (‘ullage’).

• Cork: An intact, undamaged cork is a good sign.

• Label: Well-preserved, legible labels increase the collector’s value.

• Storage: Long-term storage in a cool, dark place is essential for preserving the wine’s aromas.

• Provenance: The origin of the bottle (e.g. from a wine cellar) can significantly influence its value.

7. Conclusion

The Vaucher Père et Fils – Pommard 1980 is an authentic Burgundy from a long-established wine merchant founded by the former rowing champion André Vaucher. It embodies:

• the history of a distinctive négociant house with close ties to Burgundy’s finest domaines,

• a challenging yet drinkable vintage (1980) with solid structure,

• the typical firmness and elegance of a Pommard,

• and limited market availability with concrete auction estimates in the range of €30–40 per bottle.

Given its age and the fact that its condition is a key factor, a professional assessment of the fill level, the cork and the storage conditions is strongly recommended before any purchase or auction bid. The wine is likely to beat an advanced stage of maturationtoday , with pronounced oxidative notes – a treat for lovers of mature Burgundies.