1999 Nicolas Potel Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes

View From the Cellar

• By John Gilman
  Bonus Articles, Volnay: Secret village of Burgundy Insiders (February 2003)

  (Volnay “Clos des Chênes”- Nicolas Potel) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By John Gilman
  Bonus Articles, 1999 Red Burgundy in the Bottle (May 2002)

  (Volnay “Clos des Chênes”- Nicolas Potel) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Stephen Tanzer
  March/April 2002, IWC Issue #101, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Nicolas Potel Volnay Clos des Chenes) Login and sign up and see review text.

Burgundy-Report

• By Bill Nanson
  11/1/2005, (See more on Burgundy-Report...)

  (Potel Nicolas Volnay Clos des Chênes) Medium-plus ruby-red with a cherry-red rim. The nose is wide, some sweet red-cherry and floral notes, slightly mineral too, but not so deep as some. Having had this wine a few times before, I really expected that it might better the Clos des Ducs and the Lafon wine - it's very impressive, but doesn't manage to raise the performance bar. Where the previous two wines combine amazing intensity with panoramic width, this one has the concentration but has a much tighter presentation - certainly a rounder shape and nicer texture for sure. The finish is a very good and shows hints of oak spice. Hard to compare as the personality is so different, but on this showing a little behind the top two.

• By Bill Nanson
  11/1/2004, (See more on Burgundy-Report...)

  (Potel Nicolas Volnay Clos des Chênes) Medium-plus colour with a deep core of cherry red. A lovely, though slightly understated nose eventually expands to give a creamy, almost bready and earthy base to the red fruit. Concentrated and wonderfully smooth, the palate has real executive tannins, succulently intense, creamy fruit of many layers and very good acidity. By a margin, and to my palate, the d'Angerville Clos des Ducs is the best Volnay I've tried 1999, but maybe this wine plays in the same league. From memory I'd still rate the d'Angerville higher, but it would be interesting to try them side by side - one day I will. Lovely wine for now or over the next 10+ years.