Volnay 2015

So much more than just a Volnay Villages, especially in a vintage of the astounding quality that 2015 offered. This wine from Fernand & Laurent Pillot comes from five tiny plots spread over two acres, some containing more than 50-year-old Pinot Noir vines. In fact, two of the plots are Premier Crus, adding great complexity into the mix.

Weighty and beautifully aromatic, this has all the silkiness and elegance of classic Volnay, but with maybe a touch more richness and juiciness than one might expect. Ripe plums, black cherries and sweet spices are balanced by delicate violet and a sophisticated saline note. This intense wine pairs beautifully with mature cheeses, carpaccio, rare-cooked duck, slow-cooked chicken, gratins or earthy Chinese dishes.

Clearly a man who knows how to multitask, when Laurent Pillot isn’t making this wine or taking care of his family, you might find him flying his microlight or his hawks, or maybe even conducting the local brass band. He recommends that you can enjoy this wine “anytime during the day or night”, we suppose that if you’re as busy as he is, you may have to keep some unusual drinking hours!