Volnay, Clos des Ducs, 1er Cru, 2022

This is one of the most sensual, silky Clos des Ducs we can remember tasting, whilst retaining that brooding depth and mystery that makes Clos des Ducs so beguiling. Deep dark but fresh fruit, notes of sloe bramble and cherry with a hint of cool earth. Structured, sturdy and profound yet so neatly turned out and polished. The 52 ‘ouvrees’ or 2.15 hectares that this great Clos vineyard spans, measures exactly the same as it did in the early part of the 16th century; its earliest recorded mention. The poor soils and steep, well drained slope of this limestone and Marne vineyard tilts towards the south and south-east. The wines typically boast contrasting elegance and structure. Complex and harmonious, they have a great ageing capacity.