2019 Jean Javillier Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes

From vines planted in 1937, Javillier's 2019 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes is superb, mingling notions of sweet red berries and plums with hints of orange rind, petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, it's supple and concentrated, with melting tannins and a long, resonant finish. Readers interested in history will be intrigued to learn that, in 1945, a few rows of this parcel were damaged when a Sherman tank positioned itself here to fire on Wehrmacht forces near Beaune.