Domaine Marquis d'Angerville (new)

domaine Marquis D’Angerville

Volnay, Côte de Beaune, France

 

Guillaume D’Angerville

 
 

We’ve been fans of Domaine Marquis d’Angerville for as long as we’ve loved Burgundy and while there are other excellent expressions of Volnay, for us the identity of the village is encapsulated here. A list of their holdings touches all of the village’s great terroirs, including one of the most picturesque vineyards in Volnay and a monopole of the estate, Clos des Ducs.

The domaine started bottling its own production in the 1920s after the current Marquis’ grandfather, Sem d’Angerville, stood up to the negociants’ corrupt blending practices. As a result and in defiance of them, he became one of the first Burgundy domains to estate bottle their wines. Today the estate is led by Guillaume d’Angerville, farmed immaculately, and is producing some of the best wines in the entire Cote d’Or.

  • At just under 17 hectares of some of the greatest vineyards in Volnay, three generations of d’Angervilles have been producing wines that in the words of Clive Coates are “exemplary: pure, terroir specific, elegant and intense.”

  • All the 1er Cru plots are based on marl-limestone scree ideally exposed to the south-east. The often accentuated drop facilitates drainage and prevents excess humidity. The shallow depth of the soil and the work of the vine force it to plunge its roots deeply into the subsoil. These particularly stony grounds retain the solar heat to better restore it on the bunches and to promote their maturation.

  • The domaine began biodynamic farming in 2006, which was a priority for Guillaume after returning to the estate, they became certified in 2009.

    The domaine farms 11.5 ha in Volnay 1er cru, 1ha Meursault 1er cru, 40 acres Pommard 1er, 50 acres Volnay Village and 3.2 ha in regional appellations.

  • Winemaking for all of the domaine’s premier cru wines is the same. The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated on the skins for 8 to 10 days with regular pumping-over (but no punch downs). The wines are aged in approximately 25% new oak.

Wines

Bourgogne Rouge

Coming from different plots located in the commune of Volnay, in its eastern part, which is not on the hillside. The soils are quite deep, very clayey and not very calcareous. Historically, the Domaine Marquis d'Angerville exploited around 85 ares of red Burgundy in two plots (Grandes lands and Petits Prés). In 2019, the opportunity arose to acquire an additional hectare, also in several plots, close to our historic plots (Grandes Terres, Condemaine, Céquenceain). Vinified with the same care as the Premier Crus and Village appellations. The vines are sufficiently old (around 30 years on average) to give all their potential to the wine produced.

Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

The Bourgogne Passetoutgrain comes from a plot located in the commune of Volnay, in its eastern part, which is not on a hillside. The soils are quite deep, clayey and not very calcareous. The Domaine Marquis d'Angerville had abandoned the production of Bourgogne Passetoutgrain for a few years, but has returned to the locality of Monpoulain. The composition of this Bourgogne Passetoutgrain is rather evenly distributed between Pinot Noir and Gamay.

Bourgogne Blanc

From a plot located in the commune of Volnay, in its eastern part, which is not on the hillside. The soils are quite deep, very clayey and not very calcareous. This plot of approximately 35 ares was historically exploited in sharecropping. The Domaine Marquis d'Angerville took over direct exploitation after the 2016 harvest. Vinified with the same care as the Premier Cru de Meursault. The age of the vines (around 30 years) allows them to give all their potential to the wine produced.

Bourgogne Aligoté

Made from a plot located in the town of Volnay, on its eastern part, which is not on the hillside. The soils are quite deep, very clayey and not very calcareous. Domaine Marquis d'Angerville had two plots totaling around 40 acres located in the locality of Monpoulain. In 2019, the opportunity arose to acquire a contiguous plot with an area of approximately 22 acres.

Volnay Village

Made from the two parcels (Les Pluchots, and Les Grands Champs) totaling 0.47 hectares, located on the edge of the Volany 1ers. The first eight or so harvests sometimes incorporate grapes from the recently planted Volnay 1er cru vineyards. Les Pluchots was replanted in 2018 and Les Grands Champs is relativly old vines. Aged without new oak to keep freshness and liveliness.

Meursault 1er Cru Santenots

A unique site that, depending on the grape variety, shares the designation of 1er cru with its neighbor, Volnay. The plot is located north of the village of Meursault, between Meursault and Volnay, and the soil, very marly, lends itself to both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Domaine Marquis d'Angerville has a beautiful plot of 1.05 hectares planted with Chardonnay since 1905, originally by Sem d'Angerville, who wanted to vinify a white premier cru. Made without excessive battonage to give extra energy and tension.

Volnay 1er Cru

Made from two parcels in the Volnay Premier Cru appellation which total almost one hectare: Les Mitans (0.65 hectare) and Les Pitures (0.31 hectare), and depending on the vintage, sometimes young vines from Têtes de Cuvée plots such as Clos des Ducs, Champans or Taillepieds are included. Les Mitans (the plot is located in the climat previously called Ormeau), is located at the lower limit of the premier crus of Volnay, in fairly deep soil. The soil of Pitures, adjacent to Clos des Ducs, halfway up the slope, is marly limestone.

Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets

The Domaine historically operated a small parcel of 0.46 hectare in the upper part (to the west) of the Caillerets appellation. In 2013, the Domaine was able to acquire an additional parcel in the same appellation, only separated by a dirt road from the existing one. The soil there is poor, reddish and shallow. The entire climate enjoys exemplary exposure making it one of the most cerebral crus of Volnay, perhaps this is why it was co-founder, Ned Benedict’s favorite cuvée.

Volnay 1er Cru Fremiet

Domaine Marquis d'Angerville owns a large plot of 1.57 hectares on this terroir. Located under the Clos des Ducs et les Pitures, the soil of this climate, very superficial in the upper part due to erosion (barely 30 cm of earth), is made up of decomposing marly rocks. This mixture of clay and limestone gives finesse and body to the wine. The slope is quite steep, starting just above the Clos des Angles, and climbing up to the Chemin des Pitures, halfway up the hill.

Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Angles

The domaine originally had a plot of 0.53 ha in this vineyard. In 2008, Guillaume was able to acquire an adjacent parcel of a similar size, thus doubling its size (1.07 ha) and its production in this appellation. It is a very nice climate, located under the Volnay 1er cru Fremiet, a little lower on the hillside, with thicker and less stony soil. You walk along it when you arrive from Beaune to Volnay, on the right of the road, after Pommard, and at the crossroads of the first road which climbs at an acute angle towards Volnay.

Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds

Made from a beautiful plot of 1.07 hectare in this climate located at the top of the Volnay hill, on the south hill of the village, separated from the woods on the top of the hill by a parcel of Volnay Town. The soil at Taillepieds is poor, whitish and rocky. It also takes its name from the fact that the winegrowers quickly used their shoes to cultivate this climate covered with pebbles with sharp edges. Its steep slope, the thinness of the soil and the particularly solar exposure give the Taillepieds wines an additional finesse and elegance.

Volnay 1er Cru Champans

Made from 3.98 hectares in the Champans climat, located just north of the Caillerets. Two parallel plots constitute their part of the appellation (11 hectares in total). They extend from top to bottom of the Champans and hillside climate, thus taking advantage of all the characteristics of this remarkable south-east facing terroir, located in the center of the Volnay Premiers Crus. The soil is poorer and sits on a rocky limestone bench at the top of the hill as the slope tapers down and it becomes more clayey, stony and deeper.

Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs

Monopole of Marquis d’Angerville. A true clos, enclosed by stone walls on each side, it covers an area of 2.15 hectares, identical to the 52 openings measured in the 16th century. The soil is strongly calcareous, stony, poor, rather deep and clayey (white marl). The perfect south-eastern exposure guarantees ideal sunshine. The very steep slope of the vineyard allows very good drainage.