Volnay 1er Cru Le Clos des Chênes François Gaunoux 1993

Lot presentation

Volnay 1er Cru Le Clos des Chênes François Gaunoux 1993

The wine

This Volnay Premier Cru is a sublime expression of the elegance and finesse that define the reds of the Côte de Beaune. Set on south-east-facing slopes, the Clos des Chênes climat rests on clay-limestone soils mixed with stones, offering excellent drainage and exceptional aromatic concentration. This geological structure gives the wine its hallmark tension, precision and finesse, signatures of the finest Volnay. The grapes are harvested by hand to ensure only perfectly ripe fruit is selected. Vinification then takes place in stainless-steel vats with gentle maceration to extract silky tannins while preserving fruit purity. Eighteen months of ageing in oak casks, a proportion of which are new, bring structure and complexity while respecting the delicacy of the variety.
The wine presents a bright, light ruby hue. The nose opens with black cherry, raspberry and violet, lifted by subtle spice. The palate opens with supple attack revealing perfectly integrated tannins, leading into a persistent, elegant finish.

Situated at Meursault, the Domaine Gaunoux covers 10 hectares and is managed by François and his daughter Claudine. The Gaunoux family arrived in the Côte d'Or several centuries ago (Henri Gaunoux, François' father, was a renowned winemaker at Pommard). The vineyard covers various prestigious appellations including Meursault, Pommard, Volnay, Beaune and Puligny-Montrachet, which are mainly Premiers Crus, and even a monopoly for Meursault Le Clos de Tavaux.