February 3, 2024 - A bottle that I've been waiting on for nearly 20 years, and the bright ruby color was a good indication of what was to follow. Opened at a restaurant 1.5 hours prior to enjoying with the meal. Lots of red fruits remained balancing the notes of lingering youth with tertiary markers of earth, iron, and at times, a hint of burnt brown sugar. The wine was lifted by good acidity and very polished, though still evident tannins. The only nit was perhaps a lack of some density that I had been expecting from d'Angerville's flagship wine, still a very complete premier cru burgundy and a worthy complement to the meal, especially the duck.
January 28, 2024 - Decanted this and it needed it. Started off closed and tight. But after an hour this warmed up a bit and became just gorgeous. Really fine and precise red fruit, polished, structured and nuanced. Great year, great producer and great site. A Volnay for the long haul.
January 6, 2024 - (@ 165) In line with the other 2023 notes: marvelous.
January 1, 2024 - 2024 New Year's Day Double Blind Tasting: Single-blind as I knew the wine because it was my back-up bottle. I must admit... I was expecting more from this wine. Slightly reductive but restrained nose. Sweet cherry red fruit. A little flat and boring. It did get better the more I swirled it in the glass.
November 4, 2023 - Surprisingly dark translucent ruby. Nose of sharp crushed berry, effusive soaring violets, hints of iron filings and earth. Layers of remarkably fresh, vivid raspberry and black cherry fruit cut with molecular iron and iodine on the satiny palate. Brilliant acidity (still!) and filed off tannin. Long, echoing finish of red berry, pliant earth, and anchoring stone. This wine shows so much youth and exuberance today. Truly outstanding.
October 29, 2023 - Excellent. Oak was more noticeable with this bottle
October 27, 2023 - 2002 Beaune and Volnay Premier Crus (San Francisco): Brighter ruby, watery rim. Lovely, beautiful poised aromatics with a balance of fruit and herbs. Medium weight. Subtle, complex, gently sweet, excellent acidity, low remaining tannins, and a long, lingering finish. Less overtly mineral than the Taillepieds. What can I say? As good as the exalted reputation of the site. The most Burgundian nose and the most complete wine of the day. A great way to finish up the red wine portion of the tasting.
Even better the second night-lacier, spicier, fresh strawberry fruit. A great Volnay.
October 24, 2023 - Hints of rim bricking but otherwise youthful appearance. Subtle, lovely aromas of cherry and strawberry conserves initially that are buttressed with anise and licorice scents given air time. Mature flavors of similar, red plum, brown sugar, and grilled mushrooms. Everything in its proper place; concludes with a sweet, fruity finish that pairs admirably with a variety of foods. In the zone.
June 6, 2023 - First bottle of a new case and this was so much different than my last experience. Brilliant nose of fresh strawberries, crushed stone and touch of mushroom. fresh, full and linear on the plate. Great balance with a lovely stern tension the reminds you that this is Volnay. Loved it.
May 30, 2023 - Very dark purplish-garnet in color, expressing earthy, black cherry, and thyme aromas. Initial, monolithic grilled plum flavor with a twinge of sweetness on the finish that turns more black cherry-blackberry with time. Midway, the nose turns murky, muddy and much less appealing. But then, surprisingly, after 45 minutes, it reverts back to fragrant black, black cherry, lavender, and anise. Give this time after pouring as it goes through a transient funky, off-putting period only to emerge in form that vastly exceeds one’s first impression.