Francois Buffet Volnay 'Carelle Sous La Chapelle' Premier Cru 2021
4.3
HK$735
750ml
Bottle
Vintage Character The 2021 Volnay 'Carelle sous la Chapelle' Premier Cru came through a Burgundy season of spring frost, wet summer intervals and a later September harvest. Flowering benefited from warm, dry weather, but rain from late June into August complicated vineyard work and raised disease pressure. A dry north wind later helped the Pinot Noir ripen in healthier conditions. In the small Carelle sous la Chapelle site beside Volnay's Notre Dame chapel, this sequence favours definition and fine tannin over exceptional weight. The estate describes this Premier Cru through delicacy and persistence, and 2021 sharpens both.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing Blueberry and white flowers are the aromas the domaine associates with Carelle. In this cooler year red cherry, raspberry and a fresher floral register stand beside them. On the dry palate the site's elegant roundness is pulled taut by 2021's acidity. Tannins are fine, more a quiet outline than a heavy grip, and the finish keeps a gentle savoury note of clove and earth. Roast chicken, veal with mushrooms or soft cheese give the wine space instead of competing with a powerful sauce. Serve a touch cooler than room temperature and let the fruit unfold gradually in the glass.
Winery Background The Buffet family settled in Volnay in 1692, and Marc-Olivier, the eighth generation, leads the estate. Carelle sous la Chapelle is one of its separately named Premier Cru sites, located beside the village chapel, and the producer describes fine tannins, elegant roundness and a long finish. Across its vineyards the domaine avoids herbicides, uses cover crops and compost, and applies biodynamic ideas to selected plots while moving towards organic farming. Grapes are picked by hand and sorted before oak ageing in the estate's vaulted cellars. The aim is to keep each site recognisable in the glass.