2014 Volnay 1er Cru

Good dark red. Lovely floral lift to the aromas of kirsch and dark chocolate, with an element of smoky minerality introducing another element. Very smooth and pure in the mouth, showing more fat and refinement than the Frémiet, which seems almost chunky by comparison. Flavors of black cherry and berry liqueur are complicated by chocolate and smoky minerals. The wine's building tannins reach the front teeth and will need time in bottle to harmonize with the fruit. (ST)

The 2014 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds has a lively, vivacious bouquet with Morello cherry, raspberry coulis and hints of blackberry coming through with aeration - completely different from the introverted Taillepieds that I encountered out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and well judged acidity, very focused and harmonious, a core of minerals delivered on the sustained finish. This clearly lands at the top of my banded score - a classy Taillepieds that should offer plenty of drinking pleasure over the next 20-25 years. I tasted Domaine Marquis d'Angerville's 2014s from barrel in November last year. Guillaume d'Angerville shows his wines once they are in bottle in London the following March with his UK agents and I took this opportunity to re-evaluate them at this stage. Just the Clos des Ducs and the Champans are in barrel, due to be bottled in April 2016. I did re-taste these and they were both consistent with my notes from barrel, but will wait until they are bottled before I compose my review. (NM)

The 2014 Volnay 1er Cru has developed nicely since bottling: red cherries, raspberry preserve and a hint of bergamot gently unfurling on the nose, a patina of black fruit that I did not detect in barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin that combine nicely with the redcurrant and cranberry fruit. It is tightly wound towards the finish and as I noted in barrel, it needs 2-3 years just to fully assimilate the oak. Overall, this is a Volnay 1er Cru that is well worth seeking out.