Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chênes 2023, Château de Meursault

Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chênes 2023, Château de Meursault is one of the two great premiers crus of Volnay along with Les Caillerets, perched at the top of the hillside. It combines the fragrant finesse of the village with a structure and a hold that are rare in the appellation.

Clos des Chênes occupies the upper part of the Volnay hillside, on thin limestone soils, sometimes barely above the rock. This leanness and the altitude give wines that are tighter and firmer than the Volnay average, in a village famous for the silkiness of its tannins. Both registers are therefore found here: a floral perfume that is typically Volnay and a framework that calls for time. This is the cellaring cru of the appellation, the one that shows its best face after a good ten years.

What the critics say about this cuvée

The scores below cover the latest vintages of the cuvée, all vintages combined. The 2024 vintage earns 91/100 from Bourgogne Aujourd'hui, the 2023 is rated 94/100 by VertdeVin, and the 2022 received 96/100 from TWOFW as well as 94/100 from Jasper Morris and from Allen Meadows.

Château de Meursault is one of the finest estates of the Côte de Beaune. The fief of Moulin Foulot, from which it stems, goes back to the 11th century. Bought in 2012 by Olivier Halley, the estate has since enlarged its vineyard: 65 hectares spread over around a hundred plots, farmed in certified organic agriculture, which yield five Grands Crus, twenty Premiers Crus and a dozen village and regional appellations. The estate works entirely on direct sales, 100 % of its production comes from its own vines.

Key points

• Origin: France, Bourgogne, Côte de Beaune
• Appellation: Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chênes
• Estate: Château de Meursault
• Grape variety: Pinot Noir 100 %
• Vintage: 2023
• Colour: Red wine
• Viticulture: Certified organic agriculture
• Volume: 75 cl

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Bright, deep ruby, violet highlights, great brilliance
• Nose: Violet, morello cherry, rose petal, fine spices, mineral base
• Palate: Chiselled and tight, fine but firm tannins, great length on stone and flowers

Serving and cellaring

Serve this Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chênes at 15 to 16 °C. Its cellaring potential is eight to eighteen years. Keep the bottle lying down, at a stable temperature, away from light and vibration.

Food and wine pairings

Young pigeon, veal fillet mignon with morels, roast milk-fed lamb. On an older vintage, a poularde in cream sauce or an aged Cîteaux.

To go further

Read the difference between Grand Cru and Premier Cru, the Côte de Beaune and the best vintages for red wines. Find all the cuvées in our Château de Meursault collection, and the rest of our Bourgogne selection in the Bourgogne collection or among our red wines.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Clos des Chênes age better than the other Volnay?

Because it is planted high on the hillside, on very shallow limestone. The wine gains tension and firmness of tannin there, two conditions for long cellaring, where the mid-slope crus give Volnay that are more immediately silky.

Is Volnay the most delicate of the Côte de Beaune reds?

That is the reputation of the appellation, often described as the opposite of Pommard, its immediate neighbour: lace and perfume on one side, framework on the other. Clos des Chênes qualifies that cliché, since it also plays on structure.

How is the bottle shipped?

Delivery is free in France on orders from 300 €. Each bottle is packed with care and sent by tracked shipping.