2018 VOLNAY 1ER CRU LES FREMIETS COMTE ARMAND - 6x75cl

Tasting Notes

• 

  Goedhuis, December 2019

  The vineyard lies at the Pommard end of the village and shares some of its neighbour’s iron-rich soils. It is always the first parcel to be picked at Comte Armand and the small volume requires gentle handling in the winery. An intense nose of crisp cranberry and pomegranate. Enticing, with a restrained power, but the real charm is the purity and lift through the palate.

• 

  Neal Martin, January 2020,
  Score: 92-94

  The 2018 Volnay Les Frémiets 1er Cru, tasted from a 2016 barrel, has tightly wound bouquet, blackberry and raspberry fruit, hints of blood orange and a light vanilla-y note that emerges with aeration. The palate is well balanced with fine-grained tannins. This feels a little tauter than the 2017, more "streamlined" perhaps, which is a surprise given the warmth of the later summer, though it is the limestone soils that keep a tight leash on precocity. This has great potential. 2022 - 2042

• 

  Burghound, April 2020,
  Score: 90-93

  This is aromatically similar to the Volnay villages while being notably spicier. The markedly finer medium weight flavors possess excellent punch and evident minerality while delivering impressive persistence on the seductively textured finale. This too is lovely and worth considering. Outstanding. Drink 2028+

• 

  Jasper Morris MW, January 2020,
  Score: 91-93

  Extremely dense purple. The nose actually suggests there could be a whole bunch component here, with lifted fruit. Whole berries anyway. Rich raspberry in style with a slight strawberry note and a beautiful succulence throughout. Very good result! This has a touch of everything.

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Producer

Comte Armand

Clos des Épeneaux is Pommard’s most celebrated climat. The 5.23 hectare monopole has been in the Comte Armand family since 1828. Paul Zinetti took over from Benjamin Leroux as régisseur in 2014, and is rising to every challenge at this small, characterful domaine. They also have small holdings in Volnay and Auxey Duresses and, while these wines have the distinctive character of quintessential Côte de Beaune, they are also some of the most sophisticated, nuanced expressions you might taste across these villages. An understated use of new oak matches the textured fruit, and gentle handling in combination with intuitive biodynamic practices afford these wines both strength and delicacy. The domaine has begun to noticeably outpace its neighbours and redefine how the finest terroir of Pommard is capable of not only power but elegance as well.