Volnay Taillepieds 1er Cru 2011

Volnay / Montille, Domaine de

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Tasting Notes

(100% vendange entier): Good fresh red. Dark cherry and underbrush flavors are accented by peppery spices from the vinification with stems. Supple on entry, then concentrated, dry and uncompromising, with the stem component currently suppressing the wine's underlying fruit and minerality. Firmly built and energetic, but a bit dry following the Champans. Showing more energy than it did from barrel a year ago but the dusty tannins will require patience.

Score: 90

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 March 2014

(two-thirds vendange entier): Palish red color, which chef de cave Sieve attributes to the very early malolactic fermentation, in November of 2011): Restrained aromas of raspberry, iron and underbrush. Sweet and supple but a bit flat today, with the red berry fruit dulled by a whiff of caramel. Finishes with good minerally persistence but seems a bit dry. An awkward showing for a cuvee that is usually a very good ager.

Score: 87 - 89

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 January 2013

100% stems. There is enough reduction present to mask the nuances of the nose though the floral character does sneak past the funk. There is a wonderfully silky texture to the intense mineral and soil-inflected medium-bodied flavors that display really lovely delineation on the moderately austere and very firmly structured finish that delivers outstanding depth and length. This should improve for years to come and this is really most impressive. Producer note: Etienne de Montille describes the 2011 vintage as "completely surprising with totally unexpected quality. We had such chaotic weather with huge swings from hot, dry and sunny to cool, wet and cloudy that it was difficult to imagine what might transpire. It was one of the particularities of the vintage that once we had the proper phenolic maturities in the last week of August I waited a few days to see what might happen with the sugar levels but they just didn't budge. As such I reasoned that all that would probably happen if I waited would be to have lower acidity levels. We picked from the 28th of August to the 10th of September under near perfect conditions. As to the wines, they are fresh and energetic and should be relatively easy to drink young." My take on the de Montille 2011s is that they transcend the general quality of vintage, particularly in the Côte de Beaune.

Score: 91 - 94

Allen Meadows, Burghound Maturity: 2021+ 15 April 2013

The 2010 Volnay Taillepieds comes across as a blend of the Mitans and the Champans. It has the aromatic lift of the former and the textural richness of the later. This is a beautifully balanced wine loaded with sheer class and pedigree. Red berries, spices and flowers are some of the many nuances that are woven into the finish. The Taillepieds was made with 100% whole clusters, but unlike the Mitans, the whole clusters seem to mark this wine to a slightly lesser degree, at least today.

Score: 91 - 93

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2035 01 February 2012