Joseph Drouhin : Volnay 1er cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023 from Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a ruby-red colour that is at once intense, brilliant and luminous.

Nose
The bouquet opens with delicate floral aromas, marked by a signature note of violet and hints of candied rose. It then reveals scents of wild strawberry, enriched by notes of fully ripe red and black fruit characteristic of this sun-drenched vintage.

Palate
On the palate, this wine combines charm with good structure. The silky texture is supported by refined, smooth tannins. The wine is ample and complex, stretching into a long finish where elegant fruity and floral flavours linger.

Food and wine pairings

This gastronomic wine pairs beautifully with flavourful poultry such as roast guinea fowl with morels, or with delicate red meats such as smoked beef tataki. It also enhances sophisticated vegetarian dishes, such as miso confit aubergine.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal enjoyment, serve this Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023 at a temperature of 16°C. Built for long ageing, it will reach its full expression between 10 and 25 years after the harvest, and can be kept until around 2058.

The elegance and complexity of a Premier Cru from the Côte de Beaune

The estate

Founded in Beaune in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin, the eponymous house is an essential benchmark in Burgundy. Now run by the fourth generation, represented by Frédéric, Philippe, Véronique and Laurent Drouhin, the house oversees a vast 100-hectare estate spread across Burgundy's finest terroirs. A true pioneer, the family embraced organic and biodynamic viticulture as early as the late 1980s. Renowned for a style that combines finesse and elegance, Joseph Drouhin also stands out for its international outlook, with a second vineyard in Oregon.

The vineyard

The Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" comes from a renowned terroir in the Côte de Beaune, located mid-slope just beyond Pommard. This vineyard benefits from excellent exposure and optimal natural drainage. The vines thrive on soils composed of limestone marl of varying colours and small pebbles. Farmed organically and biodynamically, the vineyard is managed through precision viticulture with a high planting density of up to 12,500 vines per hectare, encouraging deep rooting and deliberately low yields.

The vintage

2023 ranks among the hottest years ever recorded in the region, even surpassing the temperatures of the previous year. These particularly generous climatic conditions made it possible to achieve high phenolic ripeness while maintaining consistent and abundant yields. The harvest took place in optimal conditions, delivering grapes of excellent ripeness.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand into small perforated crates to preserve the integrity of the berries. In the winery, the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023 is vinified in keeping with the natural rhythm of the terroir, using only indigenous yeasts and gravity transfers. The wine is then aged for 14 to 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new and made from wood previously air-dried for three years, to delicately refine its texture.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir