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

Tasting Characteristics and Recommendations for the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2013 from Domaine Henri Boillot

Tasting Notes

Color

The color shows a deep, concentrated red hue.

Nose

The nose is well defined, revealing aromas of wild red cherries, wild blackberries and forest floor. Hints of pepper, spice and violets round out this complex bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a medium-bodied, perfectly balanced structure. The tannins are dense and noble, delivering the fine tension typical of the 2013 vintage. The finish reveals a touch of green pepper that lends the wine a slightly austere, masculine edge, promising excellent development in the cellar.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2013 pairs wonderfully with delicately prepared white meats. It is a perfect match for roast poultry with pan juices, poultry stuffed with dried fruits or mushrooms, as well as braised game birds. Mushroom- or truffle-based pastas and risottos also make excellent pairings. For cheese, opt for soft-ripened styles such as Camembert and Brie, or certain aged goat cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

This Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2013 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favorably for more than two decades thanks to its tannic structure and natural acidity.

A powerful, mineral Volnay Premier Cru from 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, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, runs the estate alongside his son Guillaume Boillot, who joined the domaine in 2006. The estate spans around nineteen hectares of vineyards across the most prestigious appellations of the Côte de Beaune. Renowned for its highly considered, sustainable winegrowing approach and its environmental commitment, Domaine Henri Boillot has established itself as a benchmark for its white wines from Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault as well as its red wines from Volnay and Pommard.

The vineyard

The Climat des Fremiets covers 7.91 hectares and produces some of the most delicate and subtle wines in Volnay. Located above the path leading to Les Fremiers and Jarollières in Pommard, this terroir benefits from a slope that gradually becomes steeper. The soil, composed of marly limestone with numerous stones, becomes less clay-rich as the slope rises, turning more silty and lighter in its upper section. This geological feature gives the wine distinctive minerality and remarkable tension, allowing for graceful aging for more than two decades.

The vintage

The 2013 vintage in Burgundy was marked by an exceptionally cold, wet spring that delayed the growing cycle by around three weeks. Hailstorms hit the Côte de Beaune in July. Fortunately, summer brought sunshine and warmth, enabling the grapes to finish ripening. Harvest took place in early October, with shorter, cooler days, resulting in naturally high acidity. This vintage produced red wines that are fresh and focused, far from opulent, offering remarkable finesse and a clear expression of terroir thanks to strict grape selection.

Vinification and aging

The Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2013 underwent parcel-by-parcel vinification with a modest proportion of whole clusters fermented. The wine was aged for 17 months in barrels, with 30% new oak, a balance that allows the oak to integrate without dominating and keeps the expression of terroir front and center.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir