Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Volnay Vieilles Vignes is another impressive 2016 barrel sample. Notes of black cherries, blackberries, smoked earth, underbrush, and earth all give way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured wine that has ripe, present tannin, loads of fruit and depth, and a big finish. This is a rich, concentrated 2016 that has beautiful purity and finesse, as well as power.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Wine & Spirits
This wine’s plump raspberry richness is held in a sturdy structure, the earthy tannins working their way in to darken the fruit. It finishes black and smoky, a saturated young Volnay to age.
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Wine Spectator
Rich and vibrant, with rose, black cherry and black currant flavors gaining support from earth, toasty oak and sweet spice notes. Dense tannins come into play as this extends on the long finish. Best from 2021 through 2033.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
On the hillsides between Pommard and Meursault, Volnay is one of two villages in the Côte de Beaune of Burgundy that is recognized for its extraordinary Pinot Noir. Pommard is the other; the rest of the villages are most known for some of the most exceptional Chardonnay in the world. While Volnay Pinot Noir tends to be light in color and more delicate than that of Pommard, they typically stand on par with each other in regards to quality and demand.
Volnay can’t claim any Grands Crus vineyards but more than half of it has achieved Premier Cru status. Volnay Premiers Crus vineyards stretch across the entire village from northeast to southwest, abutting and actually falling “into” Meursault. Where they merge is a vineyard called Les Santenots. Pinot Noir grows in this Meursault Premier Cru but since that village is most associated with stellar whites, the Pinot Noir from Les Santenots, takes the name Volnay Santenots. Immediately above it are Volnay’s other prized Premier Cru, Le Cailleret, Champans, Clos des Chênes and Le Cailleret.
Volnay Pinot Noir are earthy with red or blue fruit. Aromas such as smoke, herbs, forest, cocoa and spice are common and on the palate they are gorgeous and concentrated with finesse but won’t truly charm you without some age.