Domaine du Château de Meursault : Volnay 1er cru "Clos des Chênes" 2025

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2025 from Domaine du Château de Meursault

Tasting

Colour
Still maturing in barrel, the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2025 should reveal, like previous vintages of this cuvée, a ruby hue, at times enhanced by violet highlights in its early youth.

Nose
The nose of this Volnay premier cru is typically characterised by a fine balance between red and black fruits, accompanied by floral notes of violet or peony, spice and, depending on the maturity of the ageing, toasty or lightly smoky touches imparted by time in barrel.

Palate
On the palate, the "Clos des Chênes" from Domaine du Château de Meursault is generally full-bodied and generous, underpinned by a firm yet elegant tannic structure, typical of the white marl soils of this climat, with a length on the finish that points to a wine built for ageing.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Volnay 1er Cru is an ideal partner for red meats, dishes in sauce, furred and feathered game, and poultry. It also pairs beautifully with full-flavoured cheeses, whether aged goat's cheese or soft-rinded varieties, and can extend into desserts with notes of coffee or chocolate.

Serving and Cellaring

As the Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2025 is still maturing at the time of its presentation, it is an en primeur wine not intended for immediate drinking. Once bottled, it is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C, to fully reveal its structure and aromas.

A Structured Volnay 1er Cru, Born of the White Marls of the "Clos des Chênes" Climat

The Estate

The Domaine du Château de Meursault has a history dating back to the 11th century, centred on the fiefdom of Moulin Foulot, before becoming over the centuries one of the great wine estates of the Côte de Beaune, in Burgundy. Since December 2012, the estate has belonged to the Halley family, represented by Olivier Halley, with Stéphane Follin-Arbelet as Managing Director and Emmanuel Escutenaire at the helm of the cellar. Based in Meursault, the estate cultivates approximately 67 hectares of vines, certified organic since the 2022 vintage, spread across numerous premiers and grands crus, and is also distinguished by an original agroforestry project centred on a "forêt gourmande" (edible forest).

The Vineyard

The Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" comes from the largest premier cru climat of the Volnay appellation, which extends over 15.4 hectares beneath the Chagnot mountain. Domaine du Château de Meursault farms approximately 2.63 hectares there, making it the largest owner in this climat. The soils, made up of damp, rugged white marls, give the Pinot Noir late ripening and fine concentration. The vines, farmed organically, combine parcels more than fifty years old with others planted in the early 1980s, bringing both depth and vigour to the grapes.

Vinification and Ageing

The Volnay 1er Cru "Clos des Chênes" 2025 comes from hand-harvested grapes and a parcel-by-parcel vinification, respecting the distinct identity of the climat. It is then aged for approximately 15 months in oak barrels, of which nearly 30% are new oak, the remainder being barrels that have previously held one or two wines, so as to integrate the oaky structure harmoniously without masking the fruit.

Grape Variety

This wine is made from Pinot Noir, the emblematic grape variety of the red wines of the Côte de Beaune and the only one permitted in the Volnay appellation.