2016 Volnay Clos de la Bousse d'Or

Healthy deep ruby-red. Tighter and more medicinal on the nose than the Caillerets, offering aromas of black cherry and licorice. In a tighter, stonier style, with its black fruit flavors accented by herbs and black pepper. (I would have guessed that this wine had been vinified with a portion of whole clusters, but I would have been wrong.) A distinctly cooler style than the Caillerets even if it displays similar flavor intensity, with the tannins coming across as firmer and dustier.

The 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d'Or was showing a little more new oak than the other premier crus (around 30% new), but it is nicely integrated with the blackberry and cassis fruit, scents of crushed violets surfacing with aeration in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe red cherry and cranberry flavors, fine, edgy tannin and good terroir expression with a dash of white pepper and spice toward the lively finish. One of my favorite Volnays from the domaine, this should age well over the next 12-15 years.