From: Volnay, Burgundy, France
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Taste and Critical Acclaim: “Subtle, almost cooling smoke spread over the red-fruited aromas of this wine. The same subtle game is played on the slender, smooth but toned body, where tart red cherry and berry bathe in distant woodsmoke. Concentration is there but unobtrusive: this wine glides like silk.” —Anne Krebiehl, Wine Enthusiast, 94 points (December 2020)
“A relatively high-toned nose flashes notes of various red berries, rose petal and earth hints though once again there is a background touch of reduction that should dissipate with age. The mouth feel of the medium-bodied and muscular flavors is again nicely sleek with good detail and power both present on the stony, long and balanced youthfully austere finale where a touch of wood appears.” —Burghound, 91 points (October 2019)
“The 2017 Volnay Les Pitures ler Cru has a lively floral bouquet, but there is some VA here that blurs the edges, and some underripeness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and lightly spiced, tart red fruit. White pepper and clove appear toward the finish, which tapers slightly and feels rather bitter. Still, this should give a decade's worth of drinking pleasure. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.” —Neal Martin, Vinous, 90 points (September 2021)
About. Although it hails from a lesser-known site than some of the domaine’s other wines, François always serves his Pitures last in the lineup, and for good reason: this cuvée offers the sternest, firmest, most elemental sense of structure of all the Volnay premier crus in the cellar. Situated near the Pommard border and adjacent to the fabled Clos des Ducs vineyard, Pitures expresses the broad, sanguine fruit more typically associated with Pommard, although a profound Volnay-esque sense of elegance permeates it as well. Bitouzet’s vines here were planted between 1959 and 1974 and encompass just shy of a hectare.
