Volnay 1er cru Clos des Chênes 2023 Domaine Didier Delagrange

The Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 2023 from Domaine Didier Delagrange is the flagship cuvée of this family domaine whose roots in Volnay reach back to the 15th century. Clos des Chênes is the domaine's signature vineyard, embodying the Delagrange family's passion and mastery of the great red wines of the Côte de Beaune. Carried by red fruits, silky and elegant on the palate with the characteristic fruitiness of the appellation, this is the wine that best expresses the Delagrange style: finesse, elegance and the true typicity of Volnay Pinot Noir in all its fullness.

Terroir and vines

Clos des Chênes is among Volnay's most respected and most extensive Premier Crus, spanning 15.4 hectares across several owners. Domaine Didier Delagrange tends 0.85 hectares here on clay-limestone soil over a limestone base. The parcel sits southeast-facing between 275 and 300 metres altitude, with a 15% slope that benefits from optimal sun exposure and remarkable natural drainage. This clay-limestone terroir gives Clos des Chênes its distinctive character among Volnay's Premier Crus, combining richness and generosity while preserving the appellation's hallmark elegance and finesse. The Delagrange vines were planted in 1939 by René, Didier's grandfather, who was among the first to bottle the entire harvest from this Premier Cru separately. Today, Alexis Delagrange, son of Hélène and Didier and trained at Beaune's School of Viticulture with experience in renowned New World wineries, brings fresh perspective to these vines now over 80 years old. Winemaking is precise and traditional: hand harvest, 12 to 16 days maceration according to vintage profile, gentle extraction to preserve Pinot Noir's finesse and typicity, and 16 to 18 months ageing in French oak with 30 to 40% new barrels.

Tasting profile

The robe is a deep ruby with carmine flashes, luminous and bright. The nose shows immediate delicacy and seduction: a refined violet perfume first, then subtle aromas of red fruits, wild strawberry and cherry, entwined with soft spice in a palette of remarkable freshness and precision. This Clos des Chênes is built on red fruits. The 2023 vintage, marked by preserved natural freshness and fine aromatic precision across the Côte de Beaune, expresses these qualities with particular clarity and vibrancy. On the palate, the tannins are silky, velvety and elegant. The texture is delicate and smooth, tannins fine and well integrated, acidity fresh and harmonious, bringing tension and length to concentrated yet light-framed fruit. The finish is persistent, fruity and lightly spiced, confirming the stature of this Premier Cru in the hands of this winemaking family. A wine for the cellar over 7 to 10 years and beyond, already quite charming.

The domaine

The Delagrange family has farmed vines in Volnay since the 15th century. Didier and Hélène Delagrange took over this family domaine in 2003, continuing a winemaking tradition rooted in Côte de Beaune's finest parcels. The domaine spans 15 hectares across Volnay, Pommard, Meursault, Saint-Romain, Aloxe-Corton, Chassagne-Montrachet and the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, with a complete range of red and white wines. Since 2017, their son Alexis brings a complementary vision shaped by vineyards around the world.

Food pairings

This Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes pairs beautifully with roasted guinea fowl with morels, veal shank with wild mushrooms, game birds such as partridge with cabbage, duck with cherries or beef fillet with black truffle jus. It suits soft cheeses like Comté or Chaource. Served between 14 and 16°C, with 45 minutes of decanting recommended in its youth, it will reveal all the fruited delicacy, silky elegance and absolute typicity of one of Volnay's greatest Premier Crus.