The 2018 Volnay Clos des Ducs 1er Cru, the famous 2.15-hectare monopole of the domaine, is matured in around 25% new oak, although Guillaume d'Angerville mentioned that he intends to use less new oak in the future. It has a very intense bouquet of raspberry preserve, kirsch, blood orange and sous-bois aromas, all displaying wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fabulous density and complexity, offering brambly red fruit, blood orange, orange peel, suggestions of dark chocolate and, of course, wonderful mineral tension on the persistent finish, which fans out beautifully. This is an exceptionally fine Volnay that will age for 30-40 years. 2024 - 2060 .

The 2018 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs has turned out very nicely in bottle, mingling aromas of raspberries and blood orange with hints of espresso roast and sweet soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and multidimensional, it's impressively fine-boned and elegant, the inherently muscular vintage notwithstanding, with a vibrant core of fruit, exquisitely powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. If d'Angerville's 2018 Champans is a fine example of the year, the Clos des Ducs by contrast transcends it.