Winemaker Notes
Volnay is often described as silky and elegant but the wines can vary in style depending on the soil and elevation of the vineyard. The premier crus situated south of the village, like Clos des Chênes, have a high percentage of limestone and show classic Volnay character of perfume and finesse.
Red Burgundy might be the world's most flexible food wine. The wine’s high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, and low tannins make it very food friendly. Red Burgundy, with its earthy and sometimes gamey character, is a classic partner to roasted game birds, grilled duck breast, and dishes that feature mushrooms, black truffles, or are rich in umami.
Professional Ratings
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Jasper Morris
Mid crimson purple. Plenty of body here on the nose. Just the right level of ripeness for me, with both acidity and tannins, a riot of rich yet still fine red fruit, strawberry and raspberry but not plum, and with an excellent aftertaste. Drink from 2028-2035.
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Vinous
The 2022 Volnay Clos des Chênes 1er Cru has a perfumed floral bouquet that opens nicely with crushed violet and iris flowers. This is wonderful. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. It’s a little toasty at the moment, though I like the pepperiness on the finish. Give it 3-5 years in bottle.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Wine Spectator
Elegant and firmly structured, boasting cherry, raspberry, floral and spice aromas and flavors. This is marked more by its lively acidity, with refined tannins adding support on the long finish. Best from 2026 through 2040.
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.