2011 Volnay Champans
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. There is a touch of reduction on the nose of Dominique Lafon’s Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2011, although underneath is some crisp red cherry and strawberry scents that are desperate to come out. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red cherries, strawberry and citrus fruit. This is nicely balanced with a composed finish that lingers nicely in the mouth without becoming overbearing, though it seems to lose a little tenacity with time in the glass. Still, this is a nicely crafted, understated drop.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
One of the most impressive wines of the year, the 2011 Volnay Champans literally bristles with energy and tension. Dark red cherry and plum notes meld into crushed flowers and rocks in a pulsating Volnay endowed with crystalline precision and fabulous balance. Absolutely nothing is out of place in a wine that is totally alive and striking in its beauty.
Good medium red. Enticing violet lift to the aromas of blackberry and licorice. Higher-pitched than the Clos des Chenes, with juicy, concentrated flavors of black cherry, dark berries and violet. Dense, sweet and alive on the suavely tannic, firm back end. Dominique Lafon told me that he did a very careful extraction here to get high-quality tannins, adding that the 2011 reds are more refined than the 2012s. A terrific showing.
Good bright red. Slightly reduced nose dominated by smoky minerality. Then rich and dense in the mouth but sappy too, offering lovely lift and a light touch to the dark fruit and mineral flavors. Solidly structured wine with a broad, long finish featuring well-covered tannins. This will benefit from the sweetening influence of the racking prior to bottling.