Wine Advisor
Marquis d'Angerville, Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2011
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru has an assured and sensual bouquet with perfumed blackberry, raspberry and almost confit-like fruit. There is detail and harmony here, the fruit beautifully enmeshed with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a silver bead of acidity all bound up in a razor-sharp line of acidity. There is impressive density with red fruit flourishing and fanning out on the finish. Superb. Tasted at Flint Wines Burgundy 2011 tasting.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good bright red. Expressive aromas of redcurrant, plum, truffle and smoke, plus a whiff of game. Sweeter and creamier than the Taillepieds, with some very ripe red fruit flavors accented by a peppery nuance. Very pliant and accessible wine with broad, ripe tannins, no rough edges and excellent length. Certainly more open-knit than the Taillepieds today.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright red. Deep, complex aromas of redcurrant, red raspberry, smoky minerality, menthol and musky soil tones. Round, supple and rich; quite full in the mouth but given shape by firm minerality and a vein of nervy acidity. Finishes floral, gripping and very long. Superb and complete Volnay--and built to age.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Volnay 1er Cru Champans, here tasted from magnum, has developed a conservative bouquet with delicate touches of dried rose petals that tincture the precise red berry fruit. This was actually more expressive and exhibited more precision than its 2009 counterpart, which would appear to be closing down at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with supple and fine tannin, the acidity extremely well judged and lending precision and tension to this Volnay Champans that I feel has improved in the last couple of years. Perhaps a 2011 Volnay on a gentle upward trajectory?
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans has more delineation on the nose compared to the 2011 Fremiets. The palate is endowed with a supple, elegant entry that segues into slightly chewy, red berry fruit laced with bay leaf and cracked pepper. It is linear, almost foursquare toward the finish. Classic Pinot, as Guillaume mentioned, and I would afford this Volnay two or three years to show what it can do. These 2011s were all tasted with Guillaume d'Angerville at the domaine in Volnay.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
One of the more accessible wines in the range, the 2011 Volnay Champans is round, succulent and beautifully expressive. I don't quite see the pedigree of the very best wines here, but in exchange the Champans will drink well right out of the gate. The pure volume and resonance argues for a bright future.
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.
