2005 La Pousse d’Or, Volnay Premier Cru, Clos des 60 Ouvrees 1x750ml

Vinous 93

Good deep ruby-red. Pure, vibrant nose offers blackberry, violet, minerals and licorice, lifted by a minty nuance. Densely packed but juicy, with lovely precision to its flavors of black fruits, mint, minerals and clove. Very spicy and very young. Wonderfully ripe without any loss of vibrancy. The very sweet tannins are thoroughly enrobed by the wine’s sheer density of material. This spreads out impressively over the palate, finishing with terrific length and energy. A major success in 2005. [Stephen Tanzer, 03/01/2008]

Robert Parker 94

The 2005 Volnay Caillerets Clos des 60 Ouvrees (like the Clos d’Audinac and Clos de la Bousse d’Or, a monopole) features the oldest vines in the estate’s Volnay holdings, more than half of them planted in the mid fifties. Black cherry, purple plum, pistachio, ginger, and cumin inform the nose. On the palate this offers old vines creaminess, flattering glycerin, and yet also a persistently bright freshness of black fruits. A deep, lingering, faintly caramel-inflected bitter-sweetness, spice, and chalk further testifies to the concentration in this wine, which surpasses the Bousse d’Or in structure and gives it a hard run for its money in the charm department. Check on this in 8-10 years but then figure on another decade of improvement in the cellar. [David Schildknecht, 01/04/2007]