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Thomas Bouley is very much the insiders secret, more famous with his fellow vignerons than with collectors chasing the next 'superstar' seen on social media. That Thomas resists putting his name on the front label of his wines (preferring to keep his father's) is typical of his humble and low key approach. Based in Volnay may also add to his relative anonymity, however we suspect this is changing rapidly as word gets out of just how spectacular his wines are, and of the continual improvement seen since he began working with his father in the early 2000's. Meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyard and winery are notable here, and key to why Thomas is so highly regarded by his peers. Yields are moderate, and in the cellar whole cluster ferments are used more with his clay rich sites (Pommard Fremiers, Volnay Clos des Chenes), while those with thin white soils (Pommard Rugiens-Hauts, Volnay Caillerets) are largely destemmed. New oak use is minimal, and each wine spend two winters on fine lees before bottling.

DOMAINE HENRI MAGNIEN Gevrey Chambertin 1er cru Lavaux St Jacques , Gevrey-Chambertin

LAURENT PONSOT Cuvée de la Violette, Chambolle-Musigny

Cuvée de lAulne Gevrey-Chambertin A blend of grapes purchased from seven or eight growers, across 10 to 12 different communal parcels smattered throughout the village. Again, this is the approach that Ponsot advocates in order to glean the essence of the regional terroir, in this case that of a single lauded village. Red and dark fruit essences mesh with the smoked meat parlayed by Gevreys heavier, ferrous limestone. A richer wine in the context of Burgundy, without the edges and creases that need too much smoothing with time in the cellar. Accessible across the earlier to mid-term.

Made from fruit grown in ultra close planted vineyards Bass Phillip wines are eerily like Pinots from Burgundy. Fully mature now, the wine has lovely spice and earthy characters ready to be enjoyed now.

Sourced from a 2 ha parcel of old vines, many over 75+ years, Les Pruliers is typically more medium-bodied, round and finely structured with savoury undergrowth complexity.

In 1775, Bouchard purchased 3.76 hectares of Volnay Caillerets Premier Cru from the Carnot family. It was the first vineyard they purchased and the label has "Ancienne Cuvée Carnot" written on it in memory of the family that owned the land before them. Medium bodied, this always elegant, persistent and fragrant wine is the epitome of Volnay and usually looks at its best with about ten years cellaring.

DOMAINE DE L'ARLOT Clos de L'Arlot 1er, Nuits-St-Georges