Volnay Carelles, Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley 2012

The 2012 Volnay 1er Cru Carelles lies next to Les Champans and consists mainly of small plots, ergo it is not often bottled separately. There are four barrels this year. “It is my favorite plot,” enthused Jean-Marc. “It has big chalky rocks underground, so it is early ripening, warm with little wind. It is usually very sweet.” It has a tight, perhaps laconic bouquet at the moment with faint scents of blackberry and dark plum fruit. The palate is much more expressive with ripe red berry fruit, superb minerality and wonderful linearity on the chalky, mouth-gripping finish. Once the nose opens up, this will be superb.