Domaine du Château de Meursault : Volnay 1er cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023 Domaine du Château de Meursault

Tasting

Colour
This wine reveals a bright, intense ruby red colour with violet hues.

Nose
The nose opens with floral notes of violet, mingled with aromas of small dark berries such as blackcurrant, blueberry and wild blackberry. Subtle spicy touches of white pepper and liquorice intertwine with mineral nuances of chalk and graphite.

Palate
Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate offers a fine balance between freshness and fruit ripeness. The tannins are fine, silky and harmonious, lending a velvety texture to the whole. The finish lingers on a persistent mineral backbone.

Food and Wine Pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with feathered game of moderate flavour, such as roast duck, pigeon or guinea fowl in sauce. It also goes wonderfully with delicate meats such as beef fillet with pepper or veal rump with morels. As for cheeses, it enhances soft or washed-rind varieties such as Époisses, Saint-Nectaire, Chaource or a matured Comté.

The Authentic Expression of a Volnay Terroir

The Estate

Founded in the 11th century, the Domaine du Château de Meursault stands out as an unmissable historic estate in Burgundy. Located in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the estate spans a vast vineyard of 67 hectares. Taken over in 2012 by the Halley family, and now driven forward by Olivier Halley, the estate has undergone a major transformation. Thanks to its environmental commitment, it stands out for its fully certified organic viticulture since 2022. Combining respect for biodiversity with the enhancement of its terroirs, the estate produces wines that reflect the richness of its many plots.

The Vineyard

The 2.63-hectare plot from which this Volnay is born lies at the top of the slope, at an altitude of around 270 metres. Benefiting from an east-southeast exposure ideal for grape ripening, this terroir rests on soils of white calcareous marl and sand. The vineyard is managed according to environmentally friendly practices, including Poussard pruning, the crushing of vine canes to enrich the soil, and the preservation of strong biodiversity between the rows.

The Vintage

The year 2023 was marked by particular climatic challenges, which nevertheless did not prevent the grapes from reaching optimal phenolic ripeness. This vintage is characterised by remarkable concentration, yielding healthy berries that made it possible to craft wines with precise balance.

Winemaking and Aging

The creation of the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2023 begins with hand-picked harvesting and rigorous sorting. The clusters, whole or partially destemmed, undergo a cold pre-fermentation maceration for around five days. Alcoholic fermentation then begins under the action of indigenous yeasts, accompanied by gentle pumping-over and measured punching-down over a period of 16 to 20 days. After malolactic fermentation in tanks, the wine is aged for 12 to 15 months in fine-grained French oak barrels, 25 to 40% of which are new.

Grape Variety

Pinot Noir