Réyane & Pascal Bouley
Champans Volnay 1er Cru Pinot Noir
Volnay, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Nose is very 15. Ripe and bright cherry fruit, dusty earth and some spice. The clarity is ok not great. Palate is juicy and bright but very 15. Not hot at all but the fruit lacks focus. Very fresh. Not awful but as it ages the “15” comes more into focus. Tannins are stern and hard and it finishes very mineral.
Nose is very 15. Ripe and bright cherry fruit, dusty earth and some spice. The clarity is ok not great. Palate is juicy and bright but very 15. Not hot at all but the fruit lacks focus. Very fresh. Not awful but as it ages the “15” comes more into focus. Tannins are stern and hard and it finishes very mineral.
Apr 5th, 2023Smells like that 2015 sunshine. Some funk as well. Will blow off I’m sure. Also some lovey macerated mid season red cherries. Lovely spice and florals as well. Funk is gone and it’s the classic huge fruit of Champans. Palate is delicious and full of dense mid to late season cherry fruit. Very concentrated and lovely tiny berry fruit intensity. Really fine and refined. Great length. This has aged beautifully. Finishes mineral. Almost a 9.5.
Smells like that 2015 sunshine. Some funk as well. Will blow off I’m sure. Also some lovey macerated mid season red cherries. Lovely spice and florals as well. Funk is gone and it’s the classic huge fruit of Champans. Palate is delicious and full of dense mid to late season cherry fruit. Very concentrated and lovely tiny berry fruit intensity. Really fine and refined. Great length. This has aged beautifully. Finishes mineral. Almost a 9.5.
Feb 1st, 2022What a nose. Deep penetrating cherry. Mid season sappy cherries, tons of earth, stones, sous bois, gorgeous Champans symphony. Wow. Palate is grippy, pure, juicy with terrific structure. Sappy, icing on cake texture. Terrific freshness and amplitude on the palate. Concentrated with tiny berry fruit intensity and wonderful energy and freshness. Young but not inaccessible.
What a nose. Deep penetrating cherry. Mid season sappy cherries, tons of earth, stones, sous bois, gorgeous Champans symphony. Wow. Palate is grippy, pure, juicy with terrific structure. Sappy, icing on cake texture. Terrific freshness and amplitude on the palate. Concentrated with tiny berry fruit intensity and wonderful energy and freshness. Young but not inaccessible.
May 7th, 2020I haven’t found this house to reflect what I love about Volnay. This is the best example I’ve had however. Lots of purity and grip here.
I haven’t found this house to reflect what I love about Volnay. This is the best example I’ve had however. Lots of purity and grip here.
Apr 17th, 2020Really lacking the voluptuousness one hopes for in a Volnay, esp Ajman’s. Yes, good mineralogy and I so like the earth, but tannins are too much. Does it need years?
Really lacking the voluptuousness one hopes for in a Volnay, esp Ajman’s. Yes, good mineralogy and I so like the earth, but tannins are too much. Does it need years?
Apr 9th, 2020As of 2016 this estate is at another level. Stunning nose that just lifts the whole room up it’s so pungent. Macaerated red cherries, complex spices, so much spice. Earthy. Mineral with loads of limestone. Hint of roses. Floral component comes through more as wine aerates. Also a savory, feral, meaty element. This nose has it all and constantly changes. Sweet and succulent with forceful, classic BOULEY tannins and wonderful purity and freshness. Palate is showing younger than the nose at this point but is just as stunning for its core of fruit, incredible concentration and ripe, Noble tannins. Long finish hints at so much more but man is this pure, energetic and vivacious. Amazing vivid fruit and you can tell the yields are low and the depth is deep ocean.
As of 2016 this estate is at another level. Stunning nose that just lifts the whole room up it’s so pungent. Macaerated red cherries, complex spices, so much spice. Earthy. Mineral with loads of limestone. Hint of roses. Floral component comes through more as wine aerates. Also a savory, feral, meaty element. This nose has it all and constantly changes. Sweet and succulent with forceful, classic BOULEY tannins and wonderful purity and freshness. Palate is showing younger than the nose at this point but is just as stunning for its core of fruit, incredible concentration and ripe, Noble tannins. Long finish hints at so much more but man is this pure, energetic and vivacious. Amazing vivid fruit and you can tell the yields are low and the depth is deep ocean.
Oct 26th, 2019Super charming. Complex with some lovely development
Super charming. Complex with some lovely development
Nov 29th, 2018