2020 Volnay Clos des Chenes
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Volnay Clos des Chênes 1er Cru has a slightly baked, gravelly nose, showing moderate delineation. It's just too Rhône-like for a Volnay. The palate is fleshy on the entry, with saturated tannins, sour cherry and black pepper. It is pretty forward, but some wood tannins mar the finish. This is a disappointing showing compared to how it tasted from barrel. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Allen Meadows, Burghound
More reviews and scores
Still very youthful, this Volnay 1er Cru has an impressive structure and, in spite of all the fine tannin on the ample body, it is already silky. With a little aeration, delicate floral notes develop. Excellent aging potential. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.
A more deeply pitched and more complex nose blends notes of dark raspberry and poached plum with those of newly turned earth, anise and a hint of wood. There is excellent power to the bigger, richer and more muscular medium weight plus flavors that are shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins on the more mineral-driven and wonderfully long finale. This is worth your interest provided that at least moderate patience can be exercised.