Three principal villages of the Côte de Beaune are particularly well-loved – Meursault, Pommard and Volnay. Volnay nestles between the other two, producing famous, silky-smooth wines. The name Volnay is derived from the God of water – Volen, and it was called Vollenay before its present name. A chateau was built here around 1250, and over the next 800 years or so, Volnay became hugely popular – Louis XI even bought vineyards here. Then, in 1937, it gained its very own appellation. It sits atop the hill of Chaignot – steep, but perfect for the south-easterly facing vines. You could write a thesis on the soil composition alone. Whilst there are no Grand Cru plots here, there are some fabulous Premier Cru vineyards – 29 of them.

This is small-producer country, and as such, Elden Selections offers Volnay wines from some of the very best of them. You’ll often hear them described as ‘feminine’ by some of the braver afficionados. Certainly they are soft, complex, delicate even – but they’re intense too in aroma, making a particularly great match for cheeses. If anything, these wines seem to share a structure and character that compares with the best of the Côtes de Nuits – Vosne and Chambolle, for instance.

Read our Blog about Volnay

Includes 1 bottle of each RED:

Potinet-Ampeau Volnay 1er Cru 'Clos des Chenes' 2012
Volnay 1er Cru 'Clos des Chenes'. Do we need to introduce one of the best-known vineyards of this generation? Here we have that 2010 fruit, just coming into its maturity, but with lots of legs left to run. The precise, chiseled palate is generous red fruit and density. A great vineyard, in a great vintage, from Potinet-Ampeau...who know a thing or two about making wine to age.

Marchand-Tawse Volnay 1er Cru 'Les Fremiets' 2020
Rich purple, this 1er cru Fremiets delivers an intensity of ripe deep cherry and dark raspberry fruit. This supple intensity continues through on the palate and there remains a nice acidity to maintain an excellent balance through to a fine clean long finish.

Domaine Michel Rebourgeon Volnay 1er Cru ‘Carelle Sous la Chapelle’ 2020
This is probably the most sylph-like, ethereal of all the Volnays. Supple laciness that envelops the palate, intense but weightless. Yet at the same time it is earth and dark chocolate, with smoky minerality, and a high-pitched acidity that carries the Volnay violets into a crescendo finish.

Domaine Albert Boillet Volnay 'Les Petits Poisots' 2022
A single-vineyard Volnay from the heart of the village, this ‘Petits Poisots’ shows great Pinot fruit in its youth. Delicate Volnay fruit, floral (the typical violet notes of a Volnay),  supple but dense, mouth-wateringly bright, with a long, lingering fruit-driven finish. This is a wine that is charming now, and which will open progressively over the next 5 years. Buy a case and drink a bottle every 6 months over 6 years and you will see a great Pinot unfold.