2022 Volnay Taillepieds 1. Cru Marquis d'Angerville

A fuller deeper purple. The nose seems almost rugged after the absolute grace of Caillerets, but there is a vast underlying density. The intense fresh raspberry fruit fills the mouth, and though this is perhaps less subtle than some, the Taillepieds possesses great potential for the medium to long term.

The 2022 Volnay Les Taillepieds 1er Cru has one of the most complex bouquets from the Domaine, very nuanced and pure with brambly red fruit, undergrowth and hints of tobacco emerging with aeration. Again, it's quite discreet and demands more coaxing than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with a beautifully balanced entry, the fruit slightly darker than other cuvées and quite saline. It gently fans out towards the finish and lingers long in the mouth. This is a more intellectual Volnay that should evolve well in bottle.

The 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds is terrific, unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and plums mingled with notions of rose petals, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and elegantly muscular, with a sweet core of fruit and youthfully assertive tannins, it will require but also reward patience.

Even in a hot year such as 2022, it struck me as odd that the Taillepieds would be more open than many other wines in the d'Angerville cellar. Yet, there was a strikingly lush blackberry fruit character with generous earthy nuance and a hint of violets that was delightful. The sweet fruit character carried through on the palate, with a plump yet still tannic and substantial texture. Given this profile, it will be ready to drink three to five years after the vintage, yet it should age well.

(from a 1.07 ha parcel of 35+ year old vines). Ripe yet attractively fresh aromas of wet stone, plum and a range of floral elements gives way to the super-sleek, intense and delicious flavors that possess a lovely texture on the youthfully austere, hugely long and linear finale that is pungently mineral in character. This is also very classy though note well that like all classic examples of Taillepieds, it’s compact, backward and is a wine that absolutely needs time.