Domaine Vincent Girardin "Les Champans" Volnay Premier Cru 2020
(Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France) - [WS 94] [BH 92] [WA 91+] [JM 91] [VM 90-92]

AGE OF VINES 65 years

GEOLOGY Grapes come from the  vineyards of the village of Volnay in the Côte de Beaune, especially from “Les Lurets” and “La Gigotte” vineyards, at the bottom of Volnay. Soil: clay and limestone.  Gentle slope. Grapes Variety: 100% Pinot Noir. Guyot pruning with different yearly works in the vineyard (pruning, trellising on wires/tying-in, thinning fruit-bunches).

VINIFICATION Harvest-picking by hand. The grapes are sorted twice (when picking the grapes and on the sorting table), then partially destemmed (a third sorting can be done if necessary with our optical machine). Afterwards put in stainless steel thermoregulated tanks. The alcoholic fermentation can begin with natural yeasts we have in the grape berries and last around three weeks. Pumping-over (the must) and crushing are very soft in order to be very careful about the substance and in order to get the purest and most representative wine we can.  Soft pressing.

AGING The wine is put into the cask further to a soft settling of the juice in French oak (15% new oak). The malolactic fermentation can begin then with natural anaerobic bacterium from the juice. The aging lasts 14 months on fine lees. We follow the lunar calendar (“fruit day”) for the bottling without fining and filtering. begin then with natural anaerobic bacterium from the juice. The aging lasts 14 months on fine lees. We follow the lunar calendar (“fruit day”) for the bottling without fining and filtering.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A fresh, harmonious version, this red delivers black cherry, blackberry, floral, earth and spice flavors on an open, fluid profile. Almost seamless and silky, with a subtle impression of dusty tannins and oak spices lining the long finish. Best from 2026 through 2042. 125 cases made, 15 cases imported." - BS (Mat 2023)

92 Points - Allen Meadow's BurgHound:
"Once again there is an elevated level of ripeness though with good freshness to the combination of black raspberry, cherry, cassis and violet. The rich and relatively full-bodied flavors possess very good richness and intensity while the lingering finish is shaped by firm supporting tannins. There is fine development potential though note that patience will be absolutely necessary." (Apr 2022)

91+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Aromas of cherries, sweet soil tones and spices preface the 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine with lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish. A little blocky at this early stage, it will reward a bit of patience." - William Kelley (Jan 2023)

91 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy: 
"Darker purple in colour here, not completely saturated but with some translucence. Ripe fruit but lively. The rich plummy end of the spectrum, kept lively by 50% whole bunches. Some tannins to finish but the fruit carries on through. The fruit profile could have been a fraction fresher but that is the year. Drink from 2027-2032." (Oct 2022)

90-92 Points - Vinous Media:
"Containing 50% whole bunch, the 2020 Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru is more precocious on the nose compared to the Santenots, touches of pencil box and sage infusing the black and blue fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with dense tannins, fine acidity, a little chewy on the entry with quite a powerful finish. I just find a little more precision on the Santenots this year. (Drink between 2024-2038)" - Neal Martin (Dec 2021)