Vincent Girardin : Volnay Village "Vieilles Vignes" 2016

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Volnay 2016 from Vincent Girardin

Food and wine pairings

This Volnay 2016 pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, roasted poultry, as well as aged soft cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate this Volnay 2016, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 15 and 17°C.

An elegant and refined Volnay

The estate

Founded in 1980, the Vincent Girardin estate quickly established itself as one of Burgundy’s must-know references. Based in Meursault in the Côte de Beaune, the estate now spans around 113 acres of vineyards across owned and leased plots, mainly concentrated in Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. Since 2012, the property has belonged to Jean-Pierre Nié, owner of the Compagnie des Vins d'Autrefois in Beaune. Eric Germain, cellar master since 2002, continues the estate’s philosophy focused on minimal intervention in the cellar and the authentic expression of Burgundian terroirs. The estate stands out for its respectful viticultural approach, having abandoned the use of herbicides and pesticides as early as 1997, now favoring organic farming practices.

The vineyard

The vines of Volnay benefit from an exceptional terroir in the Côte de Beaune, characterized by limestone soils with compositions that vary according to altitude. The plots feature oolitic limestone at higher elevations, chalky-textured Argovian limestone mid-slope, and more reddish Bathonian limestones lower down on the hillsides. This geological diversity gives Volnay wines their distinctive mineral character and natural elegance.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly challenging for winegrowers, marked by devastating spring frosts. Despite these difficult conditions, the vintage ultimately produced wines of remarkable elegance and precision, demonstrating the aging potential of the finest cuvées.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of this Volnay 2016 follows the minimal-intervention philosophy adopted by the estate since 2003. Only sulfur dioxide and copper are used as preservation agents. The use of new oak has been considerably reduced in order to preserve the authentic expression of Volnay’s terroir. The most prestigious cuvées benefit from extended aging periods in barrels to fully develop their aromatic complexity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir