2017 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru

Tank sample of final blend. Firm reddish garnet. Big and bold on the nose – almost brash! Masses of fruit, and brawn. Positively sprawling in contrast to its tight-knit stablemates – mouth filling. Massive intensity, and precision again. Polished tannins and chewy chalky finish. Pretty impressive with a green-apple note on the end. (JR)

The 2017 Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru is tasted from two barrels. It demonstrates wonderful grace and precision with mineral-infused cranberry and wild strawberry fruit. There is a sense of vitality and sophistication here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. The oak is beautifully integrated, notes of orange rind and even just a subtle touch of honey towards the relatively powerful and sustained finish that just feels audacious. Wonderful.

The 2017 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans was showing especially well, bursting with expressive aromas of rose petal, ripe wild berries, blood orange rind and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, rich and textural, with a layered core of concentrated fruit, fine structuring tannins and a long finish. The suppleness of the vintage has tempered Champans' tendency to structural muscularity but not its fleshy fruit, making for a delightful gourmand wine.