Domaine Henri Boillot : Volnay 1er cru "Les Fremiets" 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2020 from Domaine Henri Boillot

Tasting

Appearance

The color displays a ruby hue with dark highlights, revealing beautiful depth.

Nose

The nose reveals a dense, complex bouquet expressing aromas of red fruits, fruit stones and white pepper—an elegant, refined aromatic signature.

Palate

The attack is precise and straightforward. The structure stands out for its ripe, silky tannins that deliver fine persistence. A spicy finish harmoniously extends the tasting experience.

Food and wine pairings

This Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2020 pairs perfectly with roast poultry, feathered game, or a game stew. It also matches very well with couscous or a meat tagine, as well as with full-flavored cheeses such as Camembert or Brie.

Serving and cellaring

This Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. It can be appreciated now for its immediately delicious fruit, but also deserves a few years in the cellar to gain in complexity.

A Volnay premier cru combining Burgundian finesse with the elegance of Domaine Henri Boillot

The estate

Founded in 1885 by Jean Boillot, the Domaine Henri Boillot is located in Meursault, in the heart of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. In 2005, Henri Boillot took over the entire family estate and gave it his name. Since 2008, his son Guillaume has joined him and oversees the vinification of the red wines. Recognized as one of the finest producers in the Côte d'Or, the estate spans 19 hectares farmed with meticulous, highly sustainable practices. Henri and Guillaume Boillot embody absolute perfectionism and an uncompromising commitment to quality, favoring the pure expression of Burgundian terroirs.

The vineyard

The Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" comes from a 2.5-hectare parcel located within the eponymous Climat. The clay-limestone soils give the wine the delicacy and finesse that are hallmarks of this terroir. The Climat "Les Fremiets" is renowned for producing some of Volnay’s most subtle, velvety wines. The estate practices meticulous, highly sustainable viticulture without herbicides or insecticides, favoring regular plowing of the vines. Yields are deliberately kept low, and the harvest is carried out by hand to achieve optimal ripeness.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage was exceptional in Burgundy. After a mild, wet winter, spring saw a frost episode in early April, followed by flowering under favorable conditions. The hot, dry summer, with remarkable sunshine, made it possible to reach high phenolic ripeness. Despite these warm conditions, the 2020 vintage produced wines of outstanding freshness and remarkable balance, characterized by fine tannins and high natural acidity.

Vinification and aging

After hand-harvesting, the grapes for the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Fremiets" 2020 are destemmed and then chilled for a cold pre-fermentation maceration. Total vatting lasts around four weeks with regular punch-downs, without pump-overs. Aging takes place over eighteen months in 350-liter barrels, with a balance between new oak and one-year-old barrels. The wine is neither racked, fined, nor filtered prior to bottling, thus preserving its full aromatic complexity.

Grape variety

Pinot noir (100%)