Volnay, Clos des Ducs, 1er Cru, 2016

As impressive as the 2016s are in this cellar, with Clos des Ducs you find an extra gear. Here you approach the depth of more concentrated vintages such as 2015 but in a brighter more agile form. One of the more complex, layered and sophisticated 2016s you will find. Suave loganberry, griotte, bramble and plum fruit mixed with cool earth and stone notes. The depth of flavour and minerality of this wine is distinctive. There is a reserved, refined power here and the haunting finish suggests a great deal more is to come from this wine with time. Sheer class. The 52 ‘ouvrees’ or 2.15 hectares that this great Clos vineyard spans, measure exactly the same as in the early part of the 16th century, its earliest recorded mention. The poor soils and steep, well drained slope of this limestone /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.