Bouchard Père & Fils : Volnay 1er cru "Frémiets Clos de la Rougeotte" Domaine Monopole 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Volnay 1er cru "Frémiets Clos de la Rougeotte" Domaine Monopole 2018 from Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Appearance

Bright ruby in color, this wine displays garnet highlights that reflect the vintage’s concentration.

Nose

The bouquet reveals beautiful aromatic complexity dominated by fresh red fruits: cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. With aeration, floral notes emerge, accompanied by spicy nuances and subtle mineral touches. Aromas of wild berries and forest floor enrich the whole, adding an extra dimension to this refined aromatic expression.

Palate

The attack is harmonious, unveiling a remarkable balance between structure and finesse. The concentrated core expresses itself with elegance, supported by subtle, perfectly integrated tannins. A discreet acidity brings freshness and definition without ever dominating, allowing fruity and mineral notes to fully unfold. The finish lingers with persistence, gradually revealing the terroir’s mineral character.

Food and wine pairings

This Volnay 1er cru "Frémiets Clos de la Rougeotte" Domaine Monopole 2018 pairs ideally with duck and lamb served with light sauces. It also matches beautifully with refined poultry dishes and pressed cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Serve this Volnay 1er cru "Frémiets Clos de la Rougeotte" Domaine Monopole 2018 at a temperature between 17 and 18°C to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2029.

The finesse and concentration of a Volnay monopole

The estate

Founded in 1731 in Beaune by Michel Bouchard, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest and most prestigious houses. Today, the estate farms around 130 hectares across nearly one hundred distinct climats in the Côte d'Or, including twelve hectares of Grands Crus and seventy-four hectares of Premiers Crus. Acquired in September 2022 by Artémis Domaines (François Pinault), the House has undertaken a major strategic transformation. Based since 1820 in the historic Château de Beaune, the property has focused exclusively on its estate-owned vineyards, now certified organic and in conversion to biodynamic farming.

The vineyard

Frémiets Clos de la Rougeotte is a Bouchard Père & Fils monopole covering 0.45 hectare. Located in the Volnay appellation, this lieu-dit benefits from an ideal southeast-facing exposure, encouraging optimal sunshine. The vineyard lies on clay-limestone soils over a fissured rocky plateau with marl subsoils. This distinctive geological composition gives the wine its hallmark mineral richness. Volnay’s higher elevation, at around 275 meters, contributes to the finesse and elegance typical of this Côte de Beaune appellation.

The vintage

The year 2018 in Burgundy was marked by contrasting but overall favorable weather conditions. After a rainy start to the year that replenished water reserves, spring was especially warm and sunny with limited rainfall. Summer continued this trend, with temperatures significantly above average and pronounced dryness, accelerating grape ripening. The harvest stretched from August 20 to the third week of September, enabling the picking of fruit in excellent sanitary condition. The 2018 vintage produced wines that are concentrated, structured, and generous.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Volnay 1er cru "Frémiets Clos de la Rougeotte" Domaine Monopole 2018 are harvested by hand into small crates and then carefully sorted. Partial destemming is carried out to retain some stems. Fermentation takes place in small vessels, allowing precise temperature control. Maceration lasts between 15 and 20 days depending on the vintage’s characteristics. After gentle pressing, the wine is aged for 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels, 30 to 40% of which are new. This maturation takes place in the historic cellars of the Château de Beaune.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.