Notes from Grand Cru Selections:
"While there are other excellent expressions of Volnay, for us the identity of the village is encapsulated here. A list of their holdings touches all of the village’s great terroirs, including one of the most picturesque vineyards in Volnay and a monopole of the estate, Clos des Ducs. The domaine started bottling its own production in the 1920s after the current Marquis’ grandfather, Sem d’Angerville, stood up to the negociants’ corrupt blending practices. As a result and in defiance of them, he became one of the first Burgundy domains to estate bottle their wines. Today the estate is led by Guillaume d’Angerville and his daughter Margot, farmed immaculately, and is producing some of the best wines in the entire Cote d’Or.
Monopole of Marquis d’Angerville. A true clos, enclosed by stone walls on each side, it covers an area of 2.15 hectares, identical to the 52 openings measured in the 16th century. The soil is strongly calcareous, stony, poor, rather deep and clayey (white marl). The perfect south-eastern exposure guarantees ideal sunshine. The very steep slope of the vineyard allows very good drainage."
William Kelley:
"Aromas of dark berries cassis and cherries mingled with spices and orange rind in a complex bouquet introduce the 2023 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs, a medium to full-bodied, complete wine that in some respects represents the synthesis of the d'Angerville premiers crus—the finesse and perfume of Caillerets, the layers of Taillepieds and the structure of Champans, united in a whole that's more than the sum of its parts."
Jasper Morris:
"Bright mid purple. Immediate distinction and discretion, impeccably balanced. Alpine strawberry, finesse with intensity, picked at impeccable ripeness, the last red to be picked, on 9th September, but it has held out thanks to underground springs. Everything exactly where anybody would want it and stays in the mouth for so long."