"150th Anniversary of the Hospice de Beaune Auction
The Volnay has a lovely smoky black cherry nose with a silky palate of excellent density and richness (Aidan Bell). Strikingly deep purple-red for the vintage, with fresh, black fruits aromas, mingled with Dijon fruit-cake (pain d’épice). On the palate, this is fleshy and succulent, with strikingly concentrated fruitiness, allied to creamy texture, mouth-filling, lovely tannins, and real finesse on the finish. A marvellous First Growth Volnay, this has decades ahead of it, and is the most outstanding Cuvée Blondeau we have seen since 2005, in my view (well ahead of the 2009). Anthony Hanson MW, Christies"
In 1811, Francois Blondeau gave the bells of the Hospice de la Charite, which you still hear chiming as you walk along Beaune’s rue de Lorraine. Blondeau restored the church in Volnay, built a school, and gave all his vineyards in Pommard and Volnay so that 5 old people might be cared for, in perpetuity. Lovers of Volnay will appreciate the roll call of first growths included in the assemblage ere; Champans and Taillepieds palnted between 1952 and 1989, make up over 70% of this cuvee. The Ronceret, planted in 1961 and Mitans planted between 1955 and 1972 make up the remaining 30% of the cuvee. Les Champans 0.64ha, En Taille Pieds 0.56ha, Le Ronceret 0.36ha, Les Mitans 0.25ha
