2007 Volnay, Les Angles, 1er Cru, Domaine Louis Boillot & Fils, Burgundy
Critics reviews
This was the first wine to display any noticeable reduction, and it was enough to make the nose difficult to evaluate. However, the round and reasonably generous medium-bodied flavours possessed good energy and richness while culminating in a solidly persistent finish that also delivers good complexity.
Drink now
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (January 2009)
About this WINE
Louis Boillot
Louis shares his cellar with his other half, Ghislaine Barthod , under their home in Chambolle, overlooking Les Feusselottes. He is part of the Boillot family from Volnay, which explains the quantity of his vineyard holdings in the Côte de Beaune.
Since striking out on his own in 2003, he has been able to maximise the potential of his many disparate small parcels – he makes 16 wines from less than seven hectares – many of which are notable for the exceptional age of their vines.
He expanded into Moulin-à-Vent in ’13 and subsequently into Fleurie, fulfilling a long-held ambition. His and Ghislaine’s son Clément is now officially in charge, while Louis focusses on his viticulture. As yet, there are no discernible changes.
In the winery
“Non-intervention” is the word here, and Louis prefers to let his old vines speak for themselves. Everything is destalked, and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration.
Volnay
The finest and most elegant red wines of the Côte de Beaune are grown in Volnay, a village which might be twinned with Chambolle- Musigny in the Côte de Nuits, for the high active chalk content in the soil and comparatively low clay content.
Whereas in earlier times Volnay was made in a particularly light, early drinking style, these days there are many producers making wines which age extremely well. The best vineyards run either side of the RN73 trunk road.- 98 hectares of village Volnay
- 115 hectares of Premier Cru vineyards (35 in all). The finest include Les Taillepieds, Clos des Chênes, Champans, Caillerets (including Clos des 60 Ouvrées) and Santenots in Meursault.
- Recommended producers: Lafarge, Lafon, de Montille
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.
Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.
Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.
The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.
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Description
The Les Angles Premier Cru is a classic example of Burgundy, and 2007 is a lighter, more traditional vintage than we have become accustomed to in recent years. On the palate, flavours are delicate and elegant, with brisk acidity and melting tannins – as well as the liquorice note often found in wines from this vineyard, alongside a touch of vanilla and clove. Bottle ageing has imparted a fair amount of evolution to the nose: aromas of underbrush, mushroom, and crushed strawberries.
Drink now – 2024
Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (August 2022)
This was closed initially, but after double decanting and leaving for 30 minutes, it offered a deliciously satisfying example of mature Volnay. Ripe, red cherry fruit emerges, with notes of leather and sweet spices. The tannins are now soft but enough to keep the palate well-balanced and crisp, leading to a pleasingly elegant finish.
Drink now
David Jones, Account Manager, Berry Bros & Rudd (August 2022)
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