Domaine Joseph Voillot Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes 2022

Domaine Joseph Voillot is a fifth-generation Volnay estate whose reputation rests on an almost old-fashioned commitment to letting the land speak without interference. Jean-Pierre Charlot, Joseph's son-in-law and managing director since 1995, was for many years a professor at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune where he taught several of Burgundy's rising stars. He is a meticulous man with a clear philosophy: judicious use of new oak, no big extraction, a preference for fruit and soil over winemaking artifice. It is immediately evident when tasting through the range that these are true vins de terroir — and each wine at every level reflects its origin. The Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes is the most vivid expression of this philosophy at the entry level: the fruit comes from two plots on the outskirts of Volnay itself, on predominantly limestone soils — this is Volnay in all but name. 

An earthy and notably ripe dark berry fruit nose leads to mildly rustic middleweight flavours with good punch and unusually good finishing depth and length — an excellent Bourgogne. A youthful, vibrant, fresh style of Burgundy — unbelievably good value for money — with creamy maraschino cherry, spice and Volnay-like minerality keeping things interesting in riper vintages, and in leaner years a taut, focused profile that rewards a couple of years in bottle.