drouhin balson

Our wines

Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chênes

Volnay Clos des Chênes

Premier Cru

Service

  • Cellaring

    Optimal consumption: 10 to 25 years

    Ageing potential: 35 years

  • Tasting temperature

    16°C (61-62°F)

Grape variety

Pinot Noir

Vineyard

Producing commune: Volnay.

Site: south of Beaune and Pommard, Joseph Drouhin owns this beautiful vineyard in the heart of Volnay.

History & tradition: the origin of the name is oak tree (« chêne » in French) and this area may have been planted with oak trees at some time. The Drouhin family has kept a close watch over this vineyard: some notebooks written by Robert's father and grandfather have been handed down to the present generation and contain a treasure trove of information on the vineyard itself and its history.

Soil: clay and limestone.

DOWNLOAD THE SHEET

Tasting

by Véronique Boss-Drouhin

A wine full of charm. A beautiful, intense and luminous, ruby colour. A floral nose dominated by an aroma of violet, a signature of this wine. Other delicate notes can be detected, such as rose jam and wild strawberry. Good structure on the palate, with refined tannins. Nice texture with floral and fruity flavours that seem to linger for a long time.

Vintage

2020 vintage has been highlighted by a remarkable concentration. The wines have a beautiful intense ruby colour. The nose is very expressive and complex with red and black fruits. The nuances of the terroirs are already perceptible. A great vintage to keep.

Vintage review

Viticulture

Throughout its 100-hectare (247 acres) estate, Maison Joseph Drouhin has adopted organic viticulture practices since the late 1980s and biodynamic viticulture since the 1990s. Our credo is to provide « natural answers to natural problems ». All our practices show the greatest respect for the soil, the vine, and the environment. Our deliberately low production yields allow our grapes to reveal the precise expression of each terroir.

Winemaking

Harvest: grapes harvested by hands in open-work crates. If necessary, a careful sorting is proceeded.

Vinification: whole crop harvest of 20 to 50% depending on the vintage. In accordance with the terroir and the profile of the vintage, we do 2 to 3 weeks of fermentation and maceration in small open vats, marked by punching of the cap and pumping-over. The yeasts are indigenous (natural). Pressing in a vertical press. Separation of the ends of the presses based on tasting.

Ageing:  in oak barrels including 25% of new barrels.
It lasts between 14 to 18 months.

Origin of the wood: oak grown in French high forest.

Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.