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Bid on this bottle of 1995 Maison Leroy Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" . Founder of The Wine Advocate Robert Parker writes of Maison Leroy: "Much has been written about the dynamic Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy. Some of it has been malicious and motivated strictly by insidious jealousy. From time to time I have complained of her pricing structure. Yet there should never be any criticism of her philosophy of what burgundy should be. Her wines are among the noblest and purest expressions of Pinot Noir in Burgundy. They are treated with the care of a pampered child, never filtered, and bottled barrel by barrel. Given the size of her wines and their power and structure, in a cool damp cellar they will last 20 to 25 years."

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2020 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Ducs" ((94-97BH), (95-97VN), 96DC, (93-95JM), 95RP). Vinous: "The 2020 Volnay Clos des Ducs 1er Cru was picked around 23 August. It has a highly perfumed bouquet with rose petals, red cherries, raspberry and incenses, beautifully defined and wonderfully controlled. The palate also conveys a sense of effortlessness that is utterly beguiling. Very harmonious, balletically-poised thanks to its fine bead of acidity, this Clos des Ducs unfurls in the glass with a lilting, very pure and almost balletic finish. Quite saline on the aftertaste such that it urges you back for another sip. Sophisticated (as usual) yet delicious. (NM)" (12/2021)

A strikingly pure nose of cassis, violets and blueberries gracefully gives way to rich, full, sweet and mineral-infused middle weight flavors that have cut-like-a-knife delineation as well as a very firm tannic spine that will also see this through well past its 25th birthday. While the Champans presently has a bit more flesh around the structure, this is a classic Taillepieds built on its minerality and is best cellared by those blessed with ample patience as this is the most backward wine in the range today. *Don't miss!, Outstanding*

Aromas of sweet red berries, peonies, rose petals and spices introduce the 2023 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets, a medium- to full-bodied, suave and satiny wine with a charming attack, ample mid-palate and good tension through the finish. Walk through the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, and Thomas Bouley’s eight hectares of vines are easy to spot. Their unusually high, evenly spaced canopies are hedged high and late (after bunch closure), casting dappled shade over supple, aerated soils that are often covered with a delicate carpet of grass and weeds. At harvest, his yields are moderate, and clusters are invariably open and healthy. Vineyards don’t look like this by accident, and it’s both Bouley’s results and the indefatigable work ethic that lies behind them that have won him the near-universal admiration of other growers along the Côte d’Or.(WK)

The 2023 Volnay Clos des Angles 1er Cru is vinified with 40% whole bunches. It has a lifted bouquet with fine delineation and focus, as chalky scents filter through red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, good weight, raspberry coulis and wild strawberry, as just a touch of vanilla emanates from the oak on the finish. This is a step up from the previous vintage and should drink well over the next decade.(NM)

The 2023 Beaune Les Chardonnereux includes 25% whole bunch. There is a subtle dried blood/ferrous element to the aromatics here, as expressive red berry fruit mingles with orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannins. Fresh, vibrant and quite peppery toward the finish, this is a Beaune with a skip in its step. It may not be for the long term, though it is well-crafted with a persistent finish. (NM)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2019 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots du Milieu" ((93-96JM), 95DC, (92-94BH), (92-94RP), (92-94VN)). Jasper Morris: "Fine mid purple. The nose is more backward here, showing the oak a little bit from this sample. This all fits in with the weightier character of Santenots-du-Milieu. The palate marries this intensity with elegance to make the usual complete wine, fleshed out with sweet dense cherry fruit." (10/2020)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2017 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots du Milieu" (95DC, 94VN, 93BH, 93JM, 93RP, 92JG). Decanter: "The domaine's holdings of Santenots are sizeable at 3.9ha, although the younger vines are used to make Dominique Lafon's village Volnay. This richer, denser, sappier wine has subtle reduction with some spice and texture from 10% whole bunches, accompanied by filigree tannins and a core of plum and dark cherry fruit. (TA)" (10/2018)

Bid on this bottle of 2019 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay (93DC, (90-92BH), (90-92VN), (89-91RP)). Decanter: "This village Volnay is produced from the younger vines in Lafon’s superb, 4ha holding in Santenots-du-Milieu. The bunches are destemmed and macerated, prior to being fermented with as many whole berries as possible in stainless and aged for two winters in cask, one-third new. The result has a fragrant, plummy fruit and a super-rich texture, with plenty of substance and a delightfully lively freshness. Drinking Window 2024 - 2039. (CC)" (10/2020)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2016 Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots".

Bid on this 4-bottle Domaine de la Pousse d’Or tasting lot, including 1 bottle each of 2011 Volnay 1er Cru “En Caillerets” ((90-92VN), 91BH), 2021 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Amoureuses” (94BH), 2021 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru “Les Charmes” and 2021 Corton Grand Cru “Clos du Roi” (93BH). Of the 2021 Les Amoureuses, from a tiny 0.20-hectare parcel, Burghound writes: “A very fresh and exuberantly floral nose is comprised by airy red pinot fruit, exotic tea and spice nuances. The energetic and gorgeously textured super-sleek middleweight flavors possess a borderline aggressive minerality on the highly complex, balanced and strikingly persistent finish... The overall impression is pure lace and grace. This is stunning... Burghound Don’t Miss Outstanding!” (04/2023)

The 2023 Volnay Vieilles Vignes includes 28% whole bunches. This has an expressive nose, quite Pommard-like in style, with cool black plummy fruit and a touch of iodine. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and vibrant with supple tannins. The orange zest-tinged finish is nicely detailed, urging you back for more. This is a worthy follow-up to the successful 2022.(NM)

Aromas of sweet plums, berries, spices and grilled squab introduce the 2023 Volnay 1er Cru, a medium- to full-bodied, suave and fleshy wine that will offer a broad drinking window. As usual, it's a blend of Taillepieds and Clos des Chênes, from a parcel that straddles the border of the two climats. The 2023 vintage is another strong year for this 10-hectare domaine, where Raphaël Coche has held the reins since 2010 after more than a decade working alongside his father, Jean-François. Much has been written about the Coche-Dury "magic," but the rudiments are simple: attentive viticulture (now with somewhat higher hedging and seasonal cover crops); harvesting ripe fruit in a timely fashion; a rare aptitude—which seems to have been passed down from father to son—for knowing how hard to press and for how long; careful choice of barrels; and long, patient and meticulously supervised fermentations and élevage, with the wines spending two winters on the lees. Attention to detail at every step along the way delivers wines distinguished by their incisive acids, striking intensity and frequently appreciable presence of dry extract. Over the years, there has been evolution, of course, something I've written about in previous reports in detail, but the fundamentals remain the same. The 2023 vintage is very expressive out of the gates but also very clearly defined by terroir—an unusual combination that lends it considerable appeal.(WK)

The 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle is very suave and integrated for a wine that can sometimes be one of the blockier cuvées in the range. Offering up notes of dark berries, cherries and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and layered palate, it's rich and textural, with ripe tannins and a sweet core of fruit. Walk through the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, and Thomas Bouley’s vines are easy to spot. Their unusually high, evenly spaced canopies are hedged little and late, casting dappled shade over supple, aerated soils that are often covered with a delicate carpet of grass and weeds. At harvest, his yields are moderate, and clusters are invariably open and healthy. Vineyards don’t look like this by accident, and it’s both Bouley’s results and the indefatigable work ethic that lies behind them that have won him the near-universal admiration of other growers along the Côte d’Or.(WK)

The 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with notes of cassis, rose petals and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate with a cool core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the floral finish. Especially suave and perfumed, it's reminiscent of a purer, more integrated version of Bouley's 2019. Walk through the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, and Thomas Bouley’s vines are easy to spot. Their unusually high, evenly spaced canopies are hedged little and late, casting dappled shade over supple, aerated soils that are often covered with a delicate carpet of grass and weeds. At harvest, his yields are moderate, and clusters are invariably open and healthy. Vineyards don’t look like this by accident, and it’s both Bouley’s results and the indefatigable work ethic that lies behind them that have won him the near-universal admiration of other growers along the Côte d’Or. Yet in many respects, Bouley remains—as I’ve written before in these pages—a vigneron’s vigneron: someone more talked about by his neighbors than by collectors overseas, who are more readily seduced by social media savoir faire than hard work in the vineyards. Nor does he suffer fools gladly, something that can be an impediment to wooing the wine press.(WK)

Lafon's Santenots is a reference for the appellation in each vintage; 2023 is no exception. It offers a ripe, forward blackberry and blueberry fruit character with earth, smoke and spice notes. The texture is substantial, with firm tannins and abundant extract, but there is nothing heavy or astringent here. Although Pierre Lafon has begun to experiment with whole clusters in the ferment, there was none in any wine this vintage. This wine was racked after harvest 2024 and will be bottled in the spring.(CC)

The 2023 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes has turned out especially well this year, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, berries, peonies and aromatic bark. Full-bodied, satiny and seamless, it's broad shouldered and powerful but also unusually refined and precise. Bouley's holdings in Clos des Chênes comprise both white and red soils, and he observes that the white soils are producing more fruit these days, altering the profile of the blend in the direction of finesse. Walk through the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, and Thomas Bouley’s eight hectares of vines are easy to spot. Their unusually high, evenly spaced canopies are hedged high and late (after bunch closure), casting dappled shade over supple, aerated soils that are often covered with a delicate carpet of grass and weeds. At harvest, his yields are moderate, and clusters are invariably open and healthy. Vineyards don’t look like this by accident, and it’s both Bouley’s results and the indefatigable work ethic that lies behind them that have won him the near-universal admiration of other growers along the Côte d’Or.(WK)

Fireplace smoke melds with baked blueberries and mulberries. Bracing acidity combines with broad velvety tannins to offer pinpoint balance. This is bottled exclusively in magnum since 2015. These 15 ares are the second-to-last vines in Volnay as one approaches Pommard.

Lafon's Santenots is a reference for the appellation in each vintage; 2023 is no exception. It offers a ripe, forward blackberry and blueberry fruit character with earth, smoke and spice notes. The texture is substantial, with firm tannins and abundant extract, but there is nothing heavy or astringent here. Although Pierre Lafon has begun to experiment with whole clusters in the ferment, there was none in any wine this vintage. This wine was racked after harvest 2024 and will be bottled in the spring.(CC)

The 'entry-level' Volnay is anything but, with pronounced purple and black fruit aromas accented with a hint of black tea and liquorice. The texture has subtle, grippy tannins, balanced acidity and a lingering finish. The grapes are from 1.7ha of vines spread over six lieu-dits including Les Famines, Les Buttes and Des Cros Martin. The grapes are destemmed and gently fermented before ageing in used casks. This wine should be approachable soon after release and is perfect for mid-term ageing.(CC)

Blended with 30% whole bunch and one-quarter of the volume raised in WineGlobe, the 2023 Volnay Carelle Sous La Chapelle 1er Cru has a slightly austere bouquet that takes time to open in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine depth and cohesion, darker fruit, a light marine influence and silky-smooth tannins. The stems are seamlessly assimilated toward the finish, which lingers in the mouth. This is the standout cuvée from Rossignol-Février this vintage.(NM)

The 'entry-level' Volnay is anything but, with pronounced purple and black fruit aromas accented with a hint of black tea and liquorice. The texture has subtle, grippy tannins, balanced acidity and a lingering finish. The grapes are from 1.7ha of vines spread over six lieu-dits including Les Famines, Les Buttes and Des Cros Martin. The grapes are destemmed and gently fermented before ageing in used casks. This wine should be approachable soon after release and is perfect for mid-term ageing.(CC)

The 2023 Volnay Clos des Angles 1er Cru is much fresher on the nose than the Premier Cru, lively with vivacious Morello cherry and raspberry scents plus a little more mineralité. The palate is balanced with a core of sweet red fruit, but the pH seems lower so that there is more tension and race on the finish. Though not long-term, this is a well-crafted, enjoyable Volnay. (NM)

Bid on this 3-bottle tasting lot; including 2-bottles of 2012 Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" (92WS, (89-91VN)) and 1-bottle of 2012 Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots" (92WS, (89-91VN)). Of the 2012 Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru "Santenots", Wine Spectator writes: "Juicy and intense, with concentrated cherry, black currant, spice and mineral aromas and flavors. A touch of anise graces the long aftertaste as this finds balance and persistence. (BS)" (05/2015)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2002 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru "Champans" (92BH, 91WS). Burghound: "A still relatively primary nose of perfumed red fruit aromas of simply superb elegance complement precise, pure and firm middle weight flavors that offer excellent depth and outstanding length on the intensely mineral-suffused finish. This is quintessential Champans and a first rate example of the vineyard. Note however that it remains very young and will still need the better part of a decade to reach full maturity." (04/2010)

Elegant and aristocratic, the Clos des Ducs from d'Angerville is a bit restrained initially but opens up with pomegranate and blackberry fruit aromas and flavours on the palate. The wine is not astringent, but one senses the massive structure and impressive length at first taste. Because of the stony limestone and white marl soils in this 2.15ha holding at the top of the premier cru slope, this complex wine will take time to unwind, but it will undoubtedly be worth the wait.(CC)

This lovely Volnay has a secret – it is produced from grapes in Meursault. Lafon is the largest landowner in Volnay Santenots, and this wine is from the young vines of that vineyard. The wine offers a fresh raspberry and plum fruit character with hints of lavender and spice. The texture is supple and approachable; there is less intensity than in the Santenots, but one finds a youthful vigour and charm instead. The grapes here are destemmed and gently fermented before ageing in cask, one-third new.(CC)

Racy fruit with good depth of flavors. Ethereal despite the firm, savory tannins. Bright acidity pushes the flavors through the finish. Drink from 2028.

Elegant and aristocratic, the Clos des Ducs from d'Angerville is a bit restrained initially but opens up with pomegranate and blackberry fruit aromas and flavours on the palate. The wine is not astringent, but one senses the massive structure and impressive length at first taste. Because of the stony limestone and white marl soils in this 2.15ha holding at the top of the premier cru slope, this complex wine will take time to unwind, but it will undoubtedly be worth the wait.(CC)

Note: the parcel is more to the southern side by Monthélie side than to the north by Taillepieds. In contrast to the prior two wines, here the nose is bright, airy, cool and super-fresh with its array of various red berries, plum and spice wisps. There is excellent punch, if only average density, to the ultra-sleek and overtly mineral-driven flavors that possess a lovely texture thanks to the relatively fine-grained tannins shaping the balanced and lightly austere finale. Like all competent examples of Clos des Chênes, this is going to require at least mid-term keeping. Lovely.

The 2023 Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle unwinds in the glass with notes of sweet plums, ripe berries and orange zest. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and enveloping, its fleshy attack gives way to a taught, chalky finish. As readers may remember, this terroir is characterized by rich but shallow red clays that give way to big chunks of fractured limestone, and perhaps that's why it always seems to deliver wines with a front-loaded attack but a structured finish. Walk through the vineyards of the Côte de Beaune, and Thomas Bouley’s eight hectares of vines are easy to spot. Their unusually high, evenly spaced canopies are hedged high and late (after bunch closure), casting dappled shade over supple, aerated soils that are often covered with a delicate carpet of grass and weeds. At harvest, his yields are moderate, and clusters are invariably open and healthy. Vineyards don’t look like this by accident, and it’s both Bouley’s results and the indefatigable work ethic that lies behind them that have won him the near-universal admiration of other growers along the Côte d’Or.(WK)

Based in Meursault, Domaine des Comtes Lafon’s vineyard holdings also extend into neighboring Volnay. The 2023 Clos des Chênes is Pinot Noir from a premier cru vineyard on Volnay’s hillside in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, offering a clear introduction to the red-wine side of this historically Meursault-centered estate.

The Vendanges Selectionnée is a step up from the straight Volnay in both concentration and depth, with black and red fruits and notes of earth, leather and spice. The texture is more substantial and the finish is much longer, too. The grapes are from vines aged 50 years or more, located just underneath the band of premiers crus. Grapes are destemmed and fermented on native yeast before ageing in cask (10% new).

Lafon's Santenots is a reference for the appellation in each vintage; 2023 is no exception. It offers a ripe, forward blackberry and blueberry fruit character with earth, smoke and spice notes. The texture is substantial, with firm tannins and abundant extract, but there is nothing heavy or astringent here. Although Pierre Lafon has begun to experiment with whole clusters in the ferment, there was none in any wine this vintage. This wine was racked after harvest 2024 and will be bottled in the spring.(CC)

A slightly more sombre crimson. I am coaxing out some red fruit on the nose, then the intensity rather surprises on the palate. Now I can find more on the nose as well. A suggestion of peonies along with brisk and rather peppery raspberry. Drink from 2028-2035. Tasted Oct 2025.

The Lafarge Caillerets is a standout, with intense aromas of black plum and nuances of earth and mineral on the attack. It has superb depth of flavour and a creamy edge on the palate. Some of the vines have been replanted in a biodynamic spiral pattern; these are now being reintroduced to the blend. Frédéric believes this is what gives the wine its incredible density. Whatever the reason, this wine is simply outstanding.(CC)

Elegant and aristocratic, the Clos des Ducs from d'Angerville is a bit restrained initially but opens up with pomegranate and blackberry fruit aromas and flavours on the palate. The wine is not astringent, but one senses the massive structure and impressive length at first taste. Because of the stony limestone and white marl soils in this 2.15ha holding at the top of the premier cru slope, this complex wine will take time to unwind, but it will undoubtedly be worth the wait.(CC)

The Delagranges have been tending vines on the slopes of Volnay since the 1600s. The modern domaine took shape in 1978, when Henri Delagrange and Gisèle Verdereau put their six hectares together, nearly all of it in Volnay and Pommard. Their son Didier joined after his viticulture studies and later took over with his wife Hélène, and over the next few decades they grew the estate to around 15 hectares across Volnay, Pommard, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Aloxe-Corton and the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, with six hectares still in Volnay itself and a cuverie at the bottom of the village. Didier's son Alexei is the seventh generation. He's been at the domaine since 2017, has made the wines since the 2022 vintage, and keeps a cover crop on the ground all winter, ploughs rather than sprays, de-buds to hold yields down, defoliates and picks everything by hand. The flagship is the Volnay Vieilles Vignes, from vines between 80 and 100 years old, and the premier crus sit on three of the village's best-known slopes: Clos des Chênes, Champans and Santenots, with a Pommard Les Bertins alongside. The cellar work is restrained, with the aim of wines that smell precisely of where they come from, and the house style runs lacy and perfumed in Volnay, fuller and firmer a few hundred meters down the hill in Pommard.

The Delagranges have been tending vines on the slopes of Volnay since the 1600s. The modern domaine took shape in 1978, when Henri Delagrange and Gisèle Verdereau put their six hectares together, nearly all of it in Volnay and Pommard. Their son Didier joined after his viticulture studies and later took over with his wife Hélène, and over the next few decades they grew the estate to around 15 hectares across Volnay, Pommard, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Aloxe-Corton and the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, with six hectares still in Volnay itself and a cuverie at the bottom of the village. Didier's son Alexei is the seventh generation. He's been at the domaine since 2017, has made the wines since the 2022 vintage, and keeps a cover crop on the ground all winter, ploughs rather than sprays, de-buds to hold yields down, defoliates and picks everything by hand. The flagship is the Volnay Vieilles Vignes, from vines between 80 and 100 years old, and the premier crus sit on three of the village's best-known slopes: Clos des Chênes, Champans and Santenots, with a Pommard Les Bertins alongside. The cellar work is restrained, with the aim of wines that smell precisely of where they come from, and the house style runs lacy and perfumed in Volnay, fuller and firmer a few hundred meters down the hill in Pommard.

The 2023 Champans is one of my favourite wines from this cellar, as it is in many vintages. It offers lush, forward black- and blue-fruit aromas, with hints of flowers, earth and leather. The supple yet supportive tannins and a plump mouthfeel (from the dense extract) lead to a lingering finish. The grapes come from d'Angerville's superb holdings here of almost 4ha. This seductive wine should open in three to five years, and will easily stay at the top of its form for 20 years or more.(CC)