This has a more floral scent. Stony yet a little less mineral flavour – less padding too – but the flavours are more intense. Just the merest hint of oak texture in the finish just now – it will be gone in 3-6 months. Lovely.
Volnay Champans
2007 Potel Nicolas Volnay Champans
The nose offers a depth of darker fruit versus the Caillerets – almost a velvet impression and hints of chocolate – some whole clusters used here. The texture is also velvet with a hint of tannin astringency. A juicy and mouth-watering finish. Here I prefer the aromatics versus the Caillerets, though I marginally prefer the latter’s flavours.
2007 Terres d'Arômes Volnay Champans
The colour is medium, medium-plus cherry red with a faint purple rim. When first opened, there’s deep scent of faintly musky dark fruit, slowly the muskiness fades and the dark cherry moves to the fore, even accented by creaminess. More and more the nose fills and rounds out with higher tones – despite the dark fruit profile it’s a very elegant and lovely nose. In the mouth there’s very fine tannin that adds a little texture, fresh acidity and fruit that really imposes itself only from the mid-palate – but it widens nicely and has good depth.
2006 Angerville Marquis d' Volnay Champans
2005 Comtes Lafon Volnay Champans
2005 Voillot Joseph Volnay Champans
Medium and a bit depth of colour. The nose is deeply red with an impression of soft oak in the background. It’s a narrow entry, right through into the finish where it suddenly widens and shows a lovely length of flavour. The fruit is a mix of beautifully melded cherry and raspberry, the tannin must be in there somewhere but the impression is just the smooth ride to the finish. Compelling, but less interesting and open today than the Brouillards despite a little more density.
2006 Voillot Joseph Volnay Champans
2005 Angerville Marquis d' Volnay Champans
2004 Potel Nicolas Volnay Champans
A high-toned and very interesting nose. The palate shows and edge more intensity vs the Santenots yet a little less structure and certainly doesn’t show its 14°! Apparently this parcel is always riper than the surrounding vines, but still retains good acidity. With the last swirl the nose is putting on more weight. Another fine effort.