Sweet Spot
2011 d'Angerville:
Clos des Ducs, Taillepieds, Champans
2011 proved fantastic for all of the Côte de Beaune, and the wines coming out of Volnay are true standouts.
Even within this context, d'Angerville really excelled in 2011.
 |
The entire line-up here stands out for its harmony, clarity and overall fine-ness. This is the beating heart of this vintage's sweet spot.
I'm happy to offer the three top wines of the d'Angerville stable - Clos des Ducs, Taillepieds and Champans.
I should confess that I have a soft spot for Champans. I've had too many stunning old examples to not be a major believer in it. Champans is a powerful distance runner, for sure. But for all its power, Champans always remains beautifully detailed and finessed. If you want to encounter just how wildly successful d'Angerville was in 2011, this is a perfect place to look. Burghound sums it up well - "In a word, terrific."
Taillepieds stands on the opposite pole from Champans. Where Champans has a lifted, regal power, Taillepieds is racy and full of stony minerality. Of course, 2011 is an archetypal example delivering an intense mineral streak, tremendous energy and gorgeous aromatics.
Finally, there's Clos des Ducs, a monopole site for D'Angerville and one of Volnay's best. This steep, chalky site produces wines of singular intensity and breeding. The finesse, the complexity and the longevity of Ducs is stunning. It's as simple as that. The 2011 Ducs is amazingly agile and the perfume shows the complexity and minerality of this great site with beguiling airiness.
D'Angerville's 2011 has been one of my favorites since I tasted them a year ago. The more I taste them the more I'm convinced that they are some of the greatest success stories of the vintage.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
2011 d'Angerville
Volnay 1er Cru Champans
Special Email Bottle Price: $109.95
Compare at up $150
Burghound: "A slightly riper and more complex if less elegant nose demonstrates a distinctly different aromatic profile with a much earthier character to the spice, red pinot and mildly sauvage scents. The intense and strikingly pure flavors ooze a fine and relatively discreet minerality, all wrapped in a tautly muscled, balanced and persistent finish. This harmonious effort is relatively fine by the standards of the terroir and this should reward mid-term cellaring."
Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds
Special Email Bottle Price: $129.95
Compare at up to $217
Burghound: "Aromatically speaking this is almost a hypothetical blend of the Frémiets and Caillerets with its perfumed and moderately high-toned red currant nose that unveils notes of spice, stone and violets. The strikingly pure, delineated and energetic middle weight flavors display outstanding precision on the almost pungently mineral-driven, balanced and hugely long finish. This is a classic Taillepieds and while there is some of the hallmark austerity present, it is somewhat less than I'm used to seeing in this wine. A knockout but note that patience will be required."
Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs
Special Email Bottle Price: $189.95
Compare at up to $210-237
Burghound: "An incredibly perfumed, airy and cool nose speaks of anise, essence of red berry fruit, stone and floral hints. There is a distinctly textured mouth feel to the restrained and beautifully well-detailed and intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess a highly refreshing mouth feel, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, restrained and delicious finish. A lovely and very understated effort that should also reward mid-term cellaring."