Region: France - Burgundy - Cote de Beaune - Volnay
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.5%
Organic, Indigenous Yeast, Limestone & Clay Soils
Notes on the Wine
This cuvée is one of the most complete representations of the complexity that can be found in the finest Volnays as it is from one of the great vineyards of that village. It has deep color, lots of material and is an aggressive wine with loads of character marked by minerality and notes of the “soubois”. Although tt can be austere in its youth, this wine has proven its worth over and over in countless vintages: a real “keeper”.
Notes on the Producer
A committed classicist, Vincent Bitouzet has provided us with over thirty-years worth of structured, demanding, age-worthy, satisfying wines, both red and white, from the heart of the Cote de Beaune.Based in Volnay and blessed with extensive holdings in Meursault as well, this domaine is a tried and true standard bearer for all that is fundamentally good and sound in Burgundy: conscientious and sensitive work in the vineyards, respect above all for the specific character of each lieu-dit, patience and attention to detail in the cellar, and a commitment to producing wines of depth and, of critical importance, longevity.To truly understand great white and red burgundy, one must wait for these grand expressions of terroir to mature to reveal their splendor and spectacular nuance.
Vincent Bitouzet's ancestral roots in Burgundy cover at least the last two centuries. His great-great grandfather, M. Gillotte, arrived in Auxey Duresses in 1802 and was mayor of that village. In 1804, the Bitouzet line settled in Volnay. The Bitouzets were one of the first of the family domaines in this region to bottle their wines. Vincent's grandfather had already garnered medals for his winemaking talents in 1860. Vincent's wife, Annie Prieur, has equally distinguished antecedents. Her family (both Prieurs and Perronnets) was long established in Meursault and Ladoix. The resulting "merger" of the Bitouzet and Prieur family holdings has created a domaine of distinction and breadth.Francois Bitouzet, the only son of Vincent and Annie, is now working hand-in-hand with his parents as he maintains the deep Burgundian roots of his ancestors.
The domaine consists of 12 hectares, approximately 4 hectares planted to Chardonnay and the remaining 8 hectares to Pinot Noir. In Meursault, the Bitouzets have holdings on the village level in "Les Corbins" and "Clos du Cromin"; and in the 1er Cru lieu-dits of: "Charmes", "Perrieres" and "Santenots".In addition, the Bitouzet holdings extend into Puligny where they produce wine from the “Les Levrons” site.In Volnay, the vineyards are spread out amongst the following sites: for the village wine there are about 2 hectares in the neighboring vineyards of “Aussy” and “Ez Echards”; then, there is a breathtaking assortment of 1er Crus which include:"Les Aussy", "Taillepieds","Clos des Chenes", "Pitures", and "Caillerets" plus the most recent addition to the lineup, “Mitans”, the production of which is reserved exclusively for distribution in the USA.In addition, there is a 1.25 hectare parcel in Beaune 1er Cru "Cent Vignes".The Bitouzet-Prieur domaine also produces lovely versions of a trio of basic Burgundies: Bourgogne Blanc, Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Passetoutgrains.
