Champans Volnay 1er Cru Pinot Noir

Wide open and immediately compelling. Gorgeous nose of sauvage and macerated cherries with that full chord progression of early, mid and late season fruit, plus a touch of black cherry, huge spice, sous-bois, wet moss and earthy minerality. Milk chocolate develops with air and makes the nose even more enveloping. The palate is juicy, fresh and complete, with premium mid-palate opulence, terrific concentration, restrained sweetness and dynamite inner-mouth aromas. Classic Champans.

Champans is always, to me, the most friendly and “win over people” type of Volnay 1er Cru. Nose is superb with clear mid season cherry, some sour cherry, some earth, some mineral and some licorice. Gorgeous wild mint and such a bombastic perfume. So so floral. Just so pretty. That palate is classic 23 Buffet with the sour/mid -season and late season cherry like a chord progression. Stunning internal aromas. Amazingly sweet fruit accented by sour cherry and wonderful, velvety and sweet tannins. It’s just so friendly yet super serious as well. Unreal finish that keeps pumping the sweetness. Superb acidity and freshness and the grip and structure is legit but my goodness the sweetness and general puppy dog friendliness of Champans is shining through here. Brilliant. Really well balanced and just a gorgeous, velvety and silken texture. Excited to see where air takes this. After 45 minutes the nose is crazy complex and so airy with all the cherry chords and mint and even some sweet herbs. 9.7 nose now. Wow the sweetness and high pitch are bananas. On day 2 the nose is much more integrated aand the limestone is so legit. The palate is sweet, fresh and has tons of energy. Long finish.