2023 Pierrick Bouley Volnay 1er Cru 'Clos des Chenes'

Pierrick Bouley has emerged as one of the most exciting young names in the Cote de Beaune, crafting perfumed, precise Pinot Noir from a small domaine centred on Volnay and Pommard. His 2023s earned enthusiastic barrel scores from the world's leading Burgundy critics for their finesse, purity of red fruit and beautifully refined tannins.

Clos des Chenes sits high on the slope and is among the most age-worthy of all Volnay premiers crus. Bouley's 2023 is the most powerful and serious of his range - detailed, mineral-driven and built to age, rewarding real patience.

Critic Reviews

95 points - Charles Curtis MW, Decanter
This is the best wine in this cellar, even better than the Santenots. It is not as voluptuous as the Champans (also a top selection), but it is more structured and straight; tannic and firm. There is a mix of red and black fruit, appreciably more tannin and structure, and a longer finish. The grapes are from 0.37ha planted in the white marl at the top of the slope. As usual for this domaine, the fruit is destemmed and given a cold soak before fermentation with native yeasts and ageing in cask, with a moderate percentage of new wood.

94 points - Allen Meadows, Burghound
This is also airy, cool and quite fresh with a similar nose that is even more perfumed. There is a bit more size, weight and power to the detailed, sappy and mineral-driven larger-bodied flavors that conclude in a focused, serious, youthfully austere and very much built-to-age finale. Patience strongly suggested. (Drink starting 2035) (Original score: 91-94 points)

94 points - Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
A glowing fresh purple. The Clos des Chenes offers slightly more lifted red fruit, fresh raspberry backed by cherry, more fruit weight on the palate, and with good length. In fact, the aftertaste is particularly enjoyable. (Original score: 91-94 points)

93 points - Neal Martin, Vinous
The 2023 Volnay Clos des Chenes 1er Cru (24 months in barrel) has a vibrant bouquet with red cherries, wild strawberry, rose petals and peony, demonstrating more intensity than the Santenots. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, the oak well integrated (30% in the first year, nothing in the second) and it exerts gentle grip on the sensual finish. Very fine. (Drink between 2028-2044) (Original score: 91-93 points)