Henri Boillot ‘s extraordinary 2007 Red Burgundy – Volnay Premier Crus (only 3 cases of each)
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Volnay and her vines in the fall
The container has just docked and there is a (very) limited supply of 2007 Henri Boillot reds among the cases. Boillot is the man who made me a Burgundy lover. He stops at nothing to make truly legendary Burgundies.
Read carefully what Steve Tanzer says of the latest Henri Boillot beauties.
“’2007 was a nice surprise for those who waited to harvest,’ said Henri Boillot, who started picking his estate fruit on September 1 and has a stunning set of wines in the works. ‘And yields were critical,’ added Boillot, who told me that he never lets two clusters touch and tosses bunches on the ground at harvest time if he doesn’t like them. He also told me he eliminated close to 30% of the fruit on his sorting table, and that the ultimate estate-wide yield here averaged just 18 hectoliters per hectare. Boillot describes the wines as thicker and more concentrated than the 2006s, with more coloring material and better acidity. In fact, he added, they have more punch than the 2005s. .”
2007 Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay Les Fremiets Rated 91-94
Bright ruby; Boillot’s ’07s are some of the darkest wines I saw on the Cote de Beaune. The aromas of black cherry, licorice and leather show terrific floral lift. Then compellingly sweet and sappy in the mouth, with thoroughly ripe flavors of black cherry, dark berries, flowers and minerals. Elegant and classy wine, carrying a moderate 12.8% alcohol. Finishes very long, with suave, dusty tannins that are almost invisible today.
2007 Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay Les Chevrets Rated 91-94
Bright medium red-ruby. Less floral and more black on the nose than the Fremiets, but with superb vibrancy to the aromas of dark berries, licorice and minerals. This is slower to express itself but boasts terrific inner-palate tension and lift, with a mineral component giving it great penetration. The almost weightless finish features noble tannins and captivating mineral perfume. This will need seven or eight years of cellaring upon release. Conveys the concentration of tiny berries.
2007 Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay Les Caillerets Rated 92-95
Bright, saturated ruby-red. Knockout aristocratic nose combines black fruits, menthol, leather, minerals, licorice and spearmint. Incredibly suave, full and seamless, with terrific vinosity to the sweet flavors of black cherry, minerals, leather and dark chocolate. There’s a wildness to this wine that’s exhilarating. Finishes with outstanding palate-staining length and energy and utterly suave tannins. This impeccably balanced wine conveys a powerful impression of soil. The Chevrets and Fremiets are aging in 75% new oak, while this is entirely in new barriques.