Volnay AOC, Burgundy: 10 Best Wines (2024), Flavors, Terroir

Volnay is a Côte de Beaune village in Burgundy known for producing highly regarded Pinot Noir wines that reflect its unique terroir. Interestingly, Volnay started the trend of Domaine-bottling in the Côte de Beaune region.

The Volnay appellation houses 34 Premier Cru vineyards. Just outside the Volnay border, there are 4 more Volnay Santenots Premier Crus. However, white wine production dominates there. 

Let’s discover everything about Volnay - how Volnay wine tastes, the 10 best bottles, their investing potential, and some mouth-watering food pairings. We’ll also explore the magnificent Volnay terroir and how the wine is made.

Volnay Wine: Taste And Characteristics

Often referred to as the most “feminine” of red Burgundy wines, Volnay’s delicate and smooth Pinot Noir wines contrast with its more “masculine” neighbors, Pommard and Meursault. 

Expect Volnay to be light, aromatic, and elegant. These Pinot Noir wines typically have a bright ruby-red color, vivid fruit flavors, and delicate nuances of aged oak.

10 Mouth-Watering Volnay Wines And Tasting Notes

Here are 10 fantastic Volnay wines to try in 2024:

• 2013 Domaine Leroy Volnay-Santenots 'Les Santenots du Milieu', Volnay Premier Cru
• 2015 Domaine Leroy Volnay-Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru
• 1984 Domaine Leroy Les Angles, Volnay Premier Cru
• 2003 Domaine Leroy Volnay, Côte de Beaune
• 1999 Domaine Leroy En Champans, Volnay Premier Cru
• 1999 Coche-Dury, Volnay Premier Cru
• 1976 Domaine Michel Lafarge Clos des Chênes, Volnay Premier Cru
• 1996 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay, Côte de Beaune
• 2013 Bouchard Pere & Fils Taille Pied, Volnay Premier Cru
• 2011 Joseph Drouhin Volnay, Côte de Beaune

1. 2013 Domaine Leroy Volnay-Santenots 'Les Santenots du Milieu', Volnay Premier Cru, France ($4,823)

This Volnay Santenots wine has an inviting bouquet with raspberry, black fruit, and cherry aromas. The palate has hints of plum, spice, and metal with a long finish.

2. 2015 Domaine Leroy Volnay-Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru, France ($8,131)

Here’s a Pinot Noir wine with a nose of plums, dark berries, and pencil shavings. It’s a full-bodied wine with firm cassis notes on the palate and a chalky finish.

3. 1984 Domaine Leroy Les Angles, Volnay Premier Cru, France ($1,332)

Here’s a mature red wine with sweet cherry, dried leaves, and a black plum aroma. The palate has dominant cherry flavors, aged notes, and tingly acidity.

4. 2003 Domaine Leroy Volnay, Cote de Beaune, France ($927)

A 2003 vintage Pinot Noir with a beautiful red fruit and spice aroma, this great wine has cranberry, leather, and forest floor flavors with balanced acidity and a long finish.

5. 1999 Domaine Leroy En Champans, Volnay Premier Cru, France ($813)

This Domaine Leroy wine has a delicate nose of violet, gooseberry, and cherry aromas. The palate develops in the glass with crisp fruit flavors and refreshing acidity.

6. 1999 Coche-Dury Volnay Premier Cru, Volnay, France ($599)

Here’s a Burgundy wine with violet and fresh cherry aromas. It has a dense palate with juicy tannins, vivid fruit flavors, and subtle minerality.

7. 1976 Domaine Michel Lafarge Clos des Chênes, Volnay Premier Cru, France ($652)

Tannic and structured with a chunky texture, this Domain Lafarge Pinot Noir has smoky aromas with red berry and plum flavors on the palate.

8. 1996 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay, Cote de Beaune, France ($130)

This Domaine Lafarge red wine has an exuberant bouquet of wild raspberry, burned toast, and cold limestone. It has a medium-bodied palate with a seamless tannin structure and a tobacco finish.

9. 2013 Bouchard Pere & Fils Taille Pied, Volnay Premier Cru, France ($52)

Here’s a 2013 Burgundy wine with an expressive nose of berries, fresh fruit, and vanilla. The palate has a classic Volnay character with black fruit and cherry flavors.

10. 2011 Joseph Drouhin Volnay, Cote de Beaune, France ($49)

Delicious aromas of strawberry and red currant dominate the nose of this wine. On the palate, refined tannins lend a lovely roundness to the elegant and fruity body.

Investing In Volnay Wine

Volnay wines have incredible aging potential and can easily cellar for 10-15 years. Some exquisite bottles can mature for over 20 years.

They can also show commendable price appreciations. For example, a bottle of 2013 Domaine Leroy Volnay Santenots 'Les Santenots du Milieu' appreciated 129% between 2020 and 2021 from $1,736 to $3,974.

You’ll also spot Volnay wines performing well at auctions. For instance, in 2017, three bottles of 1991 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots du Milieu Leroy sold at an Idealwine auction for $2,100.

With impressive aging potential and price appreciations, Volnay wines can make for a great long-term investment.

If you’re looking to build a portfolio of investment-worthy wines, partner up with a reliable wine investment company like Vinovest. Their platform will help you build a successful wine portfolio with wine from as far as New Zealand!

Once you’ve signed up, take a look at these fantastic food pairings.

Scrumptious Food Pairings With Volnay

Volnay wines are excellent alongside pasta dishes, risottos, medium-soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert, wok-fried vegetables, and white meats like fish or chicken.

These wines also pair wonderfully with game birds, roast or fried veal, grilled lamb, and roast beef.

Now, let’s take a look at Volnay’s one-of-a-kind terroir.

The Magnificent Volnay Terroir

Located in the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy, the Volnay village sits between Pommard and Meursault, near the parish boundary of the Les Plures village.

The 312 hectare appellation is primarily planted with Pinot Noir grapes, and the Volnay village has 34 Premier Cru vineyards and no Grand Cru plots. 

The Volnay vineyard sites face south-east and have a modest slope with well-draining limestone soils. As you move down the hill, you’ll find more clay influences.

The village is known to have incredibly pure air, and Volnay purposefully limits the production of each old vine stock to reveal every nuance of the terroir in their wines, putting their wines on par with Côte de Nuits wines.

Interested in how Volnay wines are made?

How Is Volnay Wine Made?

Depending on the vineyard, the winemaker seeks total control over the winemaking process and crafts with the utmost finesse.

Although most Volnay wines are 100% Pinot Noir, AOC regulations allow 15% Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc grapes in the blend.

Generally, the grape bunches are harvested from the vine and undergo pressing and maceration, leaving the juices and skins to vinify together for at least 2 weeks. 

Native yeasts are added under strict temperature controls to ensure favorable color extraction and enhance that classic Volnay character.

The grapes ferment in open vats and are punched down every day until fermented.

Some winemakers, like Francois Leroy, perform malolactic fermentation before barrel aging to add a creamy texture and buttery nuances to the wine.

The barrels used for aging differ depending on the winemaker, but generally, the wines age in French oak barrels (20%-25% new oak) for 14 to 18 months.

Enjoy A Delicious Bottle Of Volnay Wine

The prestigious Volnay vineyards produce delectable and age-worthy red wines.

Not only do Volnay wines pair with a variety of different foods, but they’re also worth cellaring as a long-term investment.

Now, if you’re ready to build a wine portfolio, a wine investment partner like Vinovest will help you with buying, storing, and selling authentic wines like Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc within a few clicks.