d'Angerville Volnay Champans 1er Cru 2016 (750ML)

95 WS / 92-95 VM / 92-94 JM / 93+ WA / 93 DE / 91-94 BH / 17.5 JR

Pure and intense, featuring cherry, black currant and violet aromas and flavors, this red is seductive and approachable despite its youth. The solid structure is seamlessly integrated and bodes well for future development. Shows terrific harmony and expression. Best from 2023 through 2042. 145 cases imported.--Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator

(the entire bottom of this vineyard was fried by frost, according to régisseur François Duvivier): Bright, dark red-ruby. Medicinal blueberry and licorice aromas are lifted by a minty high note; less showy and more restrained on the nose than the Taillepieds and Caillerets today. Then wonderfully dense, primary and pure on the palate, but more vertical and less opulent than the Taillepieds and Caillerets. Strong mineral energy accentuates the impression of vibrancy. A bit less open to inspection today owing to its firm tannic spine. Stephen Tanzer – Vinous Media

Long rows, with just the lower part suffering from the frost, on deeper clay soil at the bottom, poorer soil above. Medium crimson colour, interesting complex aromatics with both fruit and flowers. Some more tannin here, interesting breadth of flavour and length. Tasted: October 2017.--Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy 

In contrast to the precocious 2017, the 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans is tight-knit and reserved and will demand patience. Offering up aromas of plums, cherries, violets, dark chocolate and forest floor, the wine is, medium to full-bodied, chewy and firm, with lovely depth at the core but an imposing, muscular chassis of fine-grained tannin that asserts itself on the finish. I have no concerns about the balance of this Champans, but readers should plan on waiting at least a dozen years before pulling corks. William Kelley – The Wine Advocate

The Champans is excellent this year, opening in the glass with a complex bouquet of plums, cassis, rich soil, espresso and blood orange, framed by new oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, powerful and concentrated, with a layered and rich impression, its tannins cloaked in a deep core of succulent fruit.--William Kelley, Decanter

asting note: A fresh yet notably ripe nose is composed by liqueur-like aromas of plum, spice and earth. The delicious, refined and once again strikingly pure flavors are a bit less muscular and mineral-driven than those of the Taillepieds yet the tannic spine shaping the lingering if ever-so-slightly warm finish is just as firm. This is going to require at least moderate patience before it begins to be approachable. Allen meadows - Burghound

The domaine’s largest holding with 4 ha (out of 10-11 ha). Big variation in elevation from bottom to mid hill. Varied soils. Very badly hit by frost at the bottom of the hill but higher up it was as though there hadn’t been any frost.
Mid crimson. Quite complex nose with meat-and-two-veg notes. Polished red-cherry fruit with a slightly drying note on the end. Time needed! He sees it as a paradigm of Volnay premier cru. Good energy. Lovely balance.--Jancis Robinson