2020 Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Champans
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The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans reveals scents of smoky berry fruit and plums mingled with loamy soil and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, ample and structured, with rich, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish, this will need a bit of time to shed its austerity. While it shows promising elements, will it ever truly come around?
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Neal Martin
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
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The 2020 Volnay Champans 1er Cru comes from a single parcel. This has an overtly floral bouquet with wilted rose petal and iris flower permeating the vivacious red fruit, perhaps one of the aromatics from Bouley that exhibit the most clarity. The palate is very well balanced, intense rather than powerful with a silver bead of acidity, very spicy towards the finish where there is a touch of reduction, touches of pain d’épices on the finish. This has almost 15° alcohol but it does seem to carry it well.
3.5 barrels from 35 year old vines. A deep purple centre with crimson rim. High class Volnay on the nose, a level of class superior to the preceding premiers crus. Some rose petals and peonies in the bouquet as well as red fruit. A beautiful aftertaste, this time with some concentrated brisk red cherries and even a little breadstick note. Pure and fine. Tasted: November 2021