Domaine Henri Boillot : Volnay 1er cru "Les Chevrets" 2013

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Chevrets" 2013 from Domaine Henri Boillot

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a medium-intensity ruby hue, reflecting the hallmark concentration of a cool vintage in Burgundy.

Nose

The bouquet opens with delicate aromas of blueberry and blackberry, accompanied by subtle menthol notes. With aeration, more evolved nuances emerge, evoking mocha, leather, spices, and a mineral dimension that reflects the interaction with oak aging.

Palate

The attack stands out for its silky, saline texture, a testament to the limestone soils and the phenolic ripeness achieved despite the vintage’s cool conditions. The body is medium, with juicy red-fruit notes enhanced by hints of mocha and leather toward the finish. The tannins are silky and refined, never aggressive. The finish shows complexity and persistence, with minerality and light herbal notes that express the terroir.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Volnay 1er Cru "Les Chevrets" 2013 is an ideal match for roast poultry and feathered game such as partridge or pheasant, prepared with refined sauces. It also pairs beautifully with veal in a cream and wild mushroom sauce, as well as with delicate game meats such as duck, rabbit, or venison, prepared with restraint. For cheese, opt for aged soft-rind cheeses such as Epoisses, or well-aged hard cow’s-milk cheeses such as Comté.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve this Volnay 1er Cru "Les Chevrets" 2013 at a temperature between 15 and 17°C to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity while preserving its tannic structure. This wine can be enjoyed through around 2027.

An Elegant, Mineral Volnay Premier Cru, a Refined Expression of Burgundy

The Estate

Domaine Henri Boillot traces its origins back to 1885 in Volnay, Burgundy. Henri Boillot joined the family estate in 1975 before taking over in 2005, when the domaine adopted its current name. Today, Henri Boillot, President and CEO, runs the estate alongside his son Guillaume Boillot, who joined the domaine in 2006. The estate spans around nineteen hectares of vines across the most prestigious appellations of the Côte de Beaune. Renowned for its highly reasoned viticultural approach and environmental commitment, Domaine Henri Boillot has established itself as a benchmark both for its white wines from Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault and for its red wines from Volnay and Pommard.

The Vineyard

The Volnay 1er Cru "Les Chevrets" comes from a 2.5-hectare parcel on clay-limestone soils, benefiting from an east-facing exposure. The vines, 40 to 90 years old at the time of the 2013 harvest, provide concentration and aromatic complexity. The estate practices highly reasoned viticulture, completely excluding chemical herbicides in favor of mechanical plowing. Yields are deliberately limited to around 40 hectoliters per hectare through rigorous pruning. Harvesting is exclusively by hand and carried out as late as possible to ensure optimal phenolic ripeness, particularly important for Pinot Noir.

The Vintage

The 2013 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly demanding. A freezing spring delayed flowering, creating uneven ripening conditions. The Côte de Beaune experienced significant hailstorms during the season, reducing yields but concentrating the surviving grapes. Summer was marked by intermittent rainfall, complicating vineyard health management. Fortunately, September brought drier conditions that allowed the fruit to complete ripening. The combination of reduced yields, extended ripening in September, and the natural concentration of old vines made it possible to produce balanced wines with strong aging potential.

Winemaking and Aging

The Volnay 1er Cru "Les Chevrets" 2013 was vinified using traditional methods in open vats, followed by aging in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months. For this vintage, around 50% new barrels were used, a proportion reflecting the wine’s ability to absorb and integrate oak aromas without being dominated by them.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir