Volnay Premier Cru Santenots, Domaine Éric Boigelot, 2019
Volnay Premier Cru Santenots, Domaine Éric Boigelot, 2019
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Pinot Noir
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2040
"2019 is a vintage with tremendous charm and grace, for both whites and reds - and this Santenots, a 1er Cru site bordering Meursault, embodies the perfumed elegance and supple, silken red fruits I associate with Volnay. It will continue to develop and soften but the current brightness and vivacity has its own appeal and it never disappoints on each occasion opened."
Tom Harrow, Head Wine Guru
For years, the Boigelot family sold part of their crop to none other than Coche-Dury, but Charles Boigelot is now intent on taking the domaine to new heights - and it’s working. Even Neal Martin has said he’s “keeping an eye on” them.
The 2019 Santenots captures everything we love about Volnay: graceful yet generous, with bright cherry, raspberry, and gentle baking spice. Now hitting its stride, it’s silky, balanced, and effortlessly charming.
At seven years old, this wine has hit its stride beautifully, with primary fruit flavours now integrated with developing secondary complexity. The bright cherry and raspberry will gradually deepen over the next 3-4 years, whilst earthy and mineral notes become more prominent. Expect the wine to reach full maturity around 2030, where it will plateau gracefully for another 8-10 years. The silky tannins will continue to soften, but the wine's essential elegance and balance will remain intact throughout its drinking window.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceBright ruby with a hint of garnet at the rim, suggesting the wine's graceful maturity.
NoseLifted aromatics of fresh cherry and raspberry mingle with rose petals and a whisper of warm baking spice. There's an underlying mineral thread that speaks to the limestone beneath the vines. The perfume is quintessentially Volnay - elegant and inviting rather than powerful.
PalateSilky and supple on entry, with bright red fruit flavours that dance across the palate. The texture is beautifully balanced between freshness and warmth, with fine-grained tannins providing structure without weight. A gentle spiciness emerges mid-palate, adding complexity to the core of cherry and raspberry fruit.
FinishLong and graceful, with the fruit gradually giving way to mineral and spice that lingers beautifully.
Overall impressionThis captures everything we love about Volnay - charm, grace, and effortless drinkability with genuine depth.
Food Pairings
In Burgundy, this style of elegant Pinot Noir traditionally accompanies coq au vin made with the same wine, or perhaps a classic boeuf bourguignon where the wine's silky texture complements the tender braised beef. Local charcuterie like jambon persillé pairs beautifully, as does roast chicken with herbs from the surrounding countryside. The wine's graceful nature also makes it perfect with the region's famous époisses cheese, served at room temperature with crusty bread.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 16-17°C to best appreciate the wine's aromatic complexity and silky texture. No need to decant - this wine is ready to pour and enjoy straight from the bottle. Use Burgundy bowls or large red wine glasses to concentrate the perfumed aromatics. If you must decant, 30 minutes is plenty to let the wine breathe without losing its delicate charm.
Santenots sits on the border between Volnay and Meursault, with soils that bridge both communes. The vineyard's limestone-rich clay provides the elegance typical of Volnay whilst deeper marl adds structure and longevity. This unique terroir creates wines with Volnay's signature perfumed delicacy alongside a mineral backbone that develops beautifully with age.
Volnay Premier Cru represents some of Burgundy's most graceful Pinot Noir, with 29 premier cru vineyards spanning the commune's gentle slopes. The appellation is renowned for producing wines of exceptional elegance rather than power, with silky textures and perfumed aromatics that distinguish them from their more structured neighbours in Pommard. Santenots is particularly prized as it borders Meursault, creating wines with added complexity and finesse.
The 2019 vintage in Burgundy delivered exactly what vignerons needed after a string of challenging years: a textbook growing season that let the grapes ripen slowly and evenly. Spring arrived gently, summer stayed warm without punishing heat spikes, and crucially, September brought those cool nights that preserve acidity whilst allowing full phenolic ripeness. We find ourselves talking about 2019 as one of those vintages where nature simply cooperated, giving winemakers healthy fruit with natural balance rather than forcing them to correct for extremes in the cellar.
What emerged are Burgundies with remarkable freshness married to genuine depth—the Pinot Noirs show that silky texture and bright red fruit character that makes great Burgundy so compelling, whilst the Chardonnays have both the mineral backbone and subtle richness that age beautifully. The quality runs impressively deep across all appellations, from village wines that drink like premier crus to grand crus that remind you why Burgundy commands such devotion. These wines are drinking beautifully now if you fancy them young and vibrant, though we suspect the better bottles will reward patience well into the 2030s.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Graceful and silky with bright cherry and raspberry flavours, gentle spice, and a perfumed elegance that's quintessentially Volnay.
When should I drink this wine?
It's drinking beautifully now and will continue to develop until around 2040, with peak drinking likely between now and 2036.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Classic Burgundian dishes like coq au vin or boeuf bourguignon, roast chicken, charcuterie, or soft cheeses like époisses.
Do I need to decant this wine?
No need to decant - pour straight from the bottle and serve at 16-17°C in large red wine glasses to appreciate the aromatics.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Absolutely - it's already charming but will reward patience with increased complexity and integration over the next 8-10 years.
What makes Santenots special?
This premier cru vineyard sits on the border with Meursault, giving it unique soils that create wines with both Volnay's elegance and added mineral complexity.
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