Wine Advisor
Marquis d'Angerville, Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2002
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A little bit of greenness on the blackberry, smoky nose. The palate is very cohesive, balanced and "natural". Touch of liquorish, damp earth and white pepper. A really lovely wine.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Full medium red. Enticing aromas of red fruits, minerals, mint and earth. Offers very good sweetness, concentration and breadth, but this firmly tannic, structured wine is beginning to shut down in the bottle. Finishes with subtle length. Incidentally, Villette feels that the '99s were much harder to taste in the year after the bottling, and that the '02s may have more finesse and a better balance for long-term aging. I'd hold off on this until 2010.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright, deep red. Black raspberry, black cherry, flowers, licorice and spices on the nose. A step up from the Fremiets in intensity and shape, with the spice character lifting the wine's fruit. This boasts lovely purity and grip, as well as more obvious tannic backbone that calls for at least four or five years of additional bottle aging. Today, this is quite vertical, while the Fremiets is more horizontal.
Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani
Sporting a slightly dark color, the spicy red cherry-scented 2002 Volnay Champans reveals a medium-bodied character loaded with flavorful red currants, raspberries, and cherries. Its firm finish and high-toned style will require moderate patience. Projected maturity: 2007-2014. Importer: Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines Company., New York, NY; tel. (212) 419-1400
About the Producer
History Domaine Marquis D'Angerville began in the 19th century. In 1804, Baron du Mesnil, the sub-prefect of Autun in Burgundy commune acquires property Clos des Ducs in Volnay - the heart of the appellation Côte de Beaune. Surrounding areas were formerly part of the famous vineyards of Burgundy Dukes Taillepieds, Caillerets and Champans. After the phylloxera epidemic, devastating vineyards in the late 19th century, the nephew and godson Baron du Mesnil, Marquis Sam d'Arzhenvy begins restoration of historic vineyards, re-planting of Pinot Noir grapes. A staunch supporter of "authentic wines" d'Arzhenvy opposes corrupt wine merchants, whose reputation is not always perfect. He becomes the first manufacturer in the region of bottled wines, independently engaged and their subsequent implementation. Due to its unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity of the products d'Arzhenvy Sam was one of the founders of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (l'Institut National des Appellations d'Origine, (INAO)). Son of Sam d'Arzhenvy Jacques d'Arzhenvy, created his first vintage in 1945, and in 1952 he takes control of the estate. Following the tradition of Domaine Marquis d'Angerville, Jacques convinced that all the great wines are produced directly in the vineyards, and their success depends on the quality and the low yields of old vines. This approach, according to him, is more reasonable and effective than the "green fee" or thinning. Thus, after decades of observations and work on the selection of the best examples of Pinot Noir, the family d'Angerville received special honor to grow Pinot Noir under the naming "Pinot d'Angerville". From 1982 to 1987, Jacques d'Arzhenvy is chairman and honorary president of the Wine Academy of France. Throughout his life he devoted to the creation of the great wines of Volnay. After his father's death in 2003 his son William took control of the estate d'Arzhenvy in their hands, keeping the tradition of the manor transition from generation to generation. Currently he helps agronomist Renaud de Villette, who worked with Jacques d'Arzhenvy for fifteen years.
