2020 Volnay Taillepieds 1. Cru Marquis d'Angerville

(from a 1.07 ha parcel of 35+ year old vines). This is even spicier with a terrific range of floral elements as well on the aromas of plum, violet and ripe dark raspberry. The firm, focused and almost painfully intense mineraldriven flavors are at once chiseled and breathtakingly long on the balanced, compact, austere and built-to-age finale. This is absolutely superb though note well that this is a wine to allow at least 7 to 8 years first as it’s presently a block; a beautiful and very classy block, but a block nonetheless.

Rich deep crimson purple. There is a spectacular nose here, with excellent concentration. This is high class ripe pinot, with an excellent sense of balance. The fruit completely fills the mouth, with superb purity, and just the right thread of acidity, balanced and profound. Thus far, this is the most backward wine in the line-up and will make a thrilling Taillepieds in due course.

Dark and dense on the nose, this throws off aromas of blackberry, spice and dark chocolate. The medium-bodied core is sharply focused by high acidity. The tannins, on the other hand, are downright relaxed and creamy. While there is good focus and purity, this is quite unusual for any Taillepieds, much less d'Angerville's. Again, the samples were much too cold. Nonetheless, it is clear that there is noble substance here, and that the wine will shine over time.

The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds opens in the glass with aromas of raspberries, blackberries, raw coca, loamy soil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's layered and vibrant, with terrific intensity without weight. This is an unusually fine-boned Taillepieds that is likely to emerge as the most elegant of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 trio.

The 2020 Volnay Les Taillepieds 1er Cru has an overtly floral bouquet: wilted rose petals, iris and violet, wonderful definition with plenty of crunchy red and black fruit comingling. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite firm tannins, crisp acidity, structured and quite "serious" with black pepper and a touch of clove on the pesistent finish. This will require some bottle age.