Français English

VOLNAY PREMIER CRU
Cuvée Blondeau 2018

HomepageOur winesOur range of winesVOLNAY PREMIER CRU
Cuvée Blondeau

VOLNAY PREMIER CRU
Cuvée Blondeau 2018

click on one of the vintages below for further information
2018  

Varietal

100% Pinot Noir.

Tasting notes

Colour: Intense dark red.

Bouquet: Aromas of ripe red and black berries (cherry), with toasty notes of spice and coffee.

Palate: The attack is full, rich, well-balanced, spicy and fruity (blackcurrant, blueberry, black cherry) with candied fruit. A generous, complex wine with velvety tannins and a very fine structure.

Food and wine pairing

Perfect with warm Mont d'Or cheese with Morteau sausage, small game birds, steak tartare, guinea fowl cooked with roast turnips, Brussels sprouts with bacon or a tender slice of Tome de Savoie.

Serving suggestions

Ideally served at around 15-16°C. (59-61°F.).

Ageing potential

It can be kept for 8 to 10 years in good conditions.

Origins

The village of Volnay lies to the south of Pommard, between two hills that protect it from the wind, on one of the highest points of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. The vineyard, which produces only red wines, covers 215 hectares (144 of which are Premiers Crus); Volnay has no Grand Cru, but 26 Premier Crus.

In 1809, François Blondeau, the owner and former mayor of Volnay, donated vines, a large sum of money and an investment property. The 1.80 hectare cuvée is 70% Champans (64 ares) and Taillepieds (56 ares) planted between 1952 and 1989. The remaining 30% is made up of Ronceret (36 ares), planted in 1961 and Mitans (25 ares) planted between 1955 and 1972.

Vinification and maturing

Vinified by Hospices de Beaune in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by 10-12 months' ageing in oak barrels, 100% of which are new.

Vintage : 2018

Once again, the 2018 vintage in Burgundy offered the vision scenario of an early harvest. It was already the case in 2017, and 2018 was even earlier! This vintage comes in the earliest harvest palmares compare to the norm (around the 20th of September) and come just in the second place after the unforgettable 2003 vintage when harvest between the 20 and the 25th of August in the Côte d’Or department.

All along the year 2018, the weather was very diverse, even atypical according to the month and the area. After a rainy start in the year, the spring period was very summery with sunshine above the seasonal norms and quite scarce rain. This trend continued until the harvest with a very hot and dry summer, this allowed the grapes to finish their maturation early. Harvest started on the 20th of August and lasted until the third week of September… a particularly long amplitude.

At least quality is here for this 2018 vintage, but also quantity. Grapes arrived to the winery with a perfect state of health. Concentrated, structured, generous, rich and powerful are some of the adjectives that characterize this magnificent vintage.

PDF file