Volnay 1er Cru Le Village 2022

Normally $199.50

Special $169.50

Only 16 bottles left

Located in the centre of the village, in a very sheltered location, which creates a unique micro-climate.

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

Buffet farms a small 0.14-hectare slice of this well-located premier cru, just north of Bousse d'Or and down-slope from Lafarge's monopole Clos du Château des Ducs. The vines were first planted in 1998 – before this, the land was dedicated to fruit trees. The wine is light in colour but very aromatic, with a high-toned cherry fruit and hints of spice and black tea. The texture is fine and silky, but there is enough substance to carry the wine to a lingering finish. (Drink between 2025-2050). 94 Points

Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle 2022

Normally $199.50

Special $169.50

This small parcel, thanks the high level of brown limestone in the soil, produces a rounded wine with wonderful aromatics.

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

This interesting terroir is down the slope from Bousse d'Or and just north of Champans, where the domaine owns 0.44 hectares. The grapes are destemmed and gently fermented before ageing in cask to produce this wine with lush, ripe aromas of cherry and pomegranate with violet and liquorice notes. The texture has more depth and firmer body than many in this cellar. Open this wine three to five years after the harvest for best results. (Drink between 2025-2050). 94 Points

Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Rougeotte Monopole 2022

Normally $199.50

Special $169.50

This wine is a monopole and comes from a vineyard tucked in close to the village. It is surrounded by high walls and has a marly soil rich in clay.

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

This premier cru on the northern edge of town has delivered a wine with an attractive, balanced plum and mulberry fruit aroma and hints of spice and leather. The texture lacks the density of the Champans, but this is recompensed with an agreeable saline minerality on the finish. The vines are from a half-hectare monopole next to Fremiets, not to be confused with the 0.45-hectare within Fremiets, which is also called Clos de la Rougeotte but is a monopole of Bouchard Père et Fils. Drink 2026-2044. 93 Points

Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2022

Normally $199.50

Special $169.50

Jasper Morris MW describes Champans as "quintessential Volnay". This is a very old vineyard recorded as far back as 1252. It produces one of the communes best wines.

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

Marc-Olivier Buffet remarked that he had his doubts about the freshness of the Champans early on but that with time, it regained its acidity. This crisp character is perhaps due partly to the one third whole clusters in the ferment, which don’t increase acidity but give a similar impression. The result is impressive, with ripe, plummy fruit and notes of earth and smoke on the attack. The texture is firm and tannic, with abundant concentration and length. It is an effort worthy of the site, among the best in Volnay. Drink 2027-2045. 94 Points

Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chenes 2022

Normally $199.50

Special $169.50

The big daddy of Volnay!

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

Buffet owns three parcels in the Clos des Chênes that total nearly a hectare. Two are on the relatively flat part, and one is on the slope. Marc-Olivier Buffet ferments one-third of the grapes as whole clusters to produce this balanced, elegant wine with a winning aroma of wild strawberries, violets, and spice. The texture is fresh and lively with acidity; there is enough tannin to drive this to a lingering finish. With the Taillepieds, this is among the best of the Volnays from this address. (Drink between 2025-2050).

95 Points

And some outstanding Pommard...

Pommard 2022

Normally $135.50

Special $114.95

Buffet's Pommard is largely from vineyards on the Volnay end and is remarkably supple and vibrant.

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

A rewarding purity of fruit to the village-level Pommard from Domaine François Buffet was a new discovery for me with the 2022 vintage. The wine features an enticingly ripe aroma of black plums, earth, spice, and a silky texture with refined tannins and surprising length at the village level. The domaine blends a small amount of Les Combes Dessus premier cru with 0.3 hectares of Les Combes Dessus; the grapes are destemmed and gently fermented before ageing in cask (20% new). (Drink between 2027-2055). 94 Points

Pommard 1er Cru Clos Micot 2022

Normally $199.50

Special $169.50

On the Volnay side of Pommard and one of only two Premier Crus on the eastern side of the D973. 

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

This substantial wine has grippy tannin and a long-lived structure. The fruit aromas are a bit shy initially but open up on the palate to show red and black fruits with hints of leather, cigar leaf, and earth. The grapes are from a quarter-hectare in this premier cru just east of Grande Rue and north of Les Combes Dessus on the border with Volnay. To de-emphasise the structure, the grapes are completely destemmed for fermentation; the result is muscular but not astringent. Drink 2027-2055. 95 Points

Pommard 1er Cru Clos Les Rugiens 2022

Normally $252.50

Special $214.50

Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

Unlike some of the other wines in this cellar, the Rugiens is slightly reticent and slow to open. With time, there are currant fruit aromas with a savoury edge and hints of earth. The texture is firm, and the grippy tannins need some time to resolve. The grapes are from a tiny 0.17-hectare slice of century-old vines in Rugiens-Haut; one-third are fermented as whole clusters, and the wine is ageing in cask (one-quarter new). (Drink between 2027-2055). 94 Points

Neal Martin, Vinous

he 2022 Pommard Les Rugiens 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet with raspberry, sous-bois and light floral scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry, quite a structured Les Rugiens as it ought to be. It offers grippy, dark berry fruit laced with black pepper towards the persistent finish. Very promising. (Drink between 2026-2048). 93-95 Points

Burghound

 (from .17 ha holding in Rugiens Hauts). Once again there is a lovely cool, pure and airy quality to the more floral-suffused aromas of red cherry, Asian-style tea and a whiff of crushed fennel. I very much like the texture of the acceptably dense and more mineral-driven flavors that display focused power on the balanced, youthfully austere and chiseled finale. This is also going to need at least some patience and should easily reward a decade or more of cellaring. 2031+. 92-94 Points

To order email tracey@grandmillesime.com.au or phone (03) 9326 5737. In stock for immediate delivery.

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Dinner hosted by Alix Buffet

With a long history Domaine Francois Buffet comprises 8 hectares of vineyards mostly in the Cote de Beaune.

Domaine Buffet own a wonderful range of Premier Cru Volnay and Pommard. The variety of their holdings makes for some very interesting and varied expressions of terroir.

The domaine is currently run by Marc-Olivier Buffet, the eighth generation. 

We are delighted to advise that Alix Buffet, the ninth generation, is coming to Australia to join our staff for six months this year.

So we have assembled a dinner featuring 12 Volnay 1er Cru from the domaine. Alix will host the dinner and provide an insight that only someone extremely familiar with the wines and vineyards can do.

The wines span four vintages and all five 1er Cru Volnay are represented.

You will have the opportunity to taste and discuss the wines with Alix at a special 4 course dinner at Castlerose.

The wine list

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Rougeotte Monopole 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chenes 2022

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Le Village 2021

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle 2021

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2021

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle 2020

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 2020

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chenes 2020

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2020

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Le Village 2019

Domaine Francois Buffet Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2019

Venue: Castlerose, 67-69 Palmerston Crescent, Sth Melbourne 3205

Time and date: 7.15pm Tuesday 18 February 2024

Cost: $275.00 per Person all inclusive

To book email tracey@grandmillesime.com.au or phone (03) 9326 5737.