Managed by Catherine Buisson and her husband Patrick Essa, Domaine Buisson-Charles encompasses around 8 hectares of vines planted mainly in the surroundings of the Meursault appellation. As of 2020, the domain is in the process of organic transition, though particular care has always been given to the vines and no weed killers have ever been used in the vineyard. Particularly concentrated due to the age of the vines (30 to 90 years), the wines from this domain are made to be aged. In 2011, the domain developed their own merchant activity with prestigious crus in Chablis, Puligny-Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne. In these wines we find the same level of work as in those made from property grapes. There are also new innovations and methods tried out each year, hence the vinifications in whole harvests for the reds, a process that brings a crisp quality and bright personality.

Domaine Buisson-Charles’ Volnay 1er Cru Champans is crafted from a 0.54-hectare parcel of Pinot Noir. Over 70 years old, the vines pruned using the Cordon de Royat technique and Single Guyot method, enjoy an ideal clay-limestone terroir. The grapes are carefully hand-picked and meticulously sorted on tables in the parcels, to guarantee optimum quality. The vinification process lasts 14 to 18 days in vats, with pneumatic pressing for gentle extraction. The juice is then matured for 17 months in new oak casks, adding complexity and finesse. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration to preserve the integrity of the wine.
On the nose, this nectar reveals elegant aromas of black cherry, raspberry, violet and sweet spices. It is beautifully structured on the palate, with silky tannins, ripe red fruit flavours, a subtle minerality and a long finish marked by notes of undergrowth and truffle.