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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Of all the new direct-import discoveries to join our portfolio last year, perhaps none reach the heights of quality that Domaine Clos de la Chapelle does. This remarkable domaine under the direction of Pierre Merguey and his American partner Mark O'Connell is still flying under the radar, but they're poised for a big breakout into the elite echelon.
The domaine's vineyard holdings are impressive to say the least, centered around their monopole Volnay Clos de la Chapelle 1er Cru. Top to bottom, the 2023s were incredibly impressive on both occasions we tasted them, at Wine Paris in February and again at the domaine in April. The critical press is equally impressed on a consistent basis, as the domaine has racked up solid accolades from Wine Spectator, Burghound, Inside Burgundy, and View From the Cellar.
The crown jewel is indeed the "utterly stunning" monopole Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Chapelle, a 96-point showstopper that's "all about finesse and its silky texture, with ... terrific dimension." The double 95-point Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds is itself a world-class expression of this hallowed site that can stand toe-to-toe with the likes of d'Angerville and Montille at a fraction of their prices. Gilman exclaims, "I have always loved this terroir since my very earliest days drinking Burgundy and it seems pretty clear to me that today, no one makes a better example of Taillepieds than the team at Clos de la Chapelle!" The JG94 Volany Santentots du Milieu is a bona fide gem in its own. "Remarkably sensual," the 2023 is "a simply great bottle of Santenots du Milieu in the making." The sleeper gem, however, is the Beaune Champs Pimot 1er Cru. The lesser-know lieu-dit turned out a fantastic 2023 with a "complex aromatic constellation" and a "a very good core of fruit, tangy acids, fine focus and balance and a long, suavely tannic finish."
It's safe to say we haven't been this excited to introduce a new producer in a long time, and our direct access to the domaine's cellars makes the entire line-up some of the sharpest collectible buys in our Burgundy inventory. |
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This red is all about finesse and its silky texture, with macerated cherry and strawberry, sandalwood, cinnamon and cardamom aromas and flavors. Vibrant acidity and malleable tannins lend support as this plays out on the long, detailed, minerally and spicy aftertaste. Shows terrific dimension. Best from 2029 through 2048.
96 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Apr 2026)
The 2023 Clos de la Chapelle is an utterly stunning young bottle of Volnay. The wine shows beautiful transparency in its aromatic constellation of red plums, red and black cherries, pigeon, raw cocoa, a very complex base of soil tones, violets, peonies, distant bonfire and a deft framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, supremely elegant and shows off marvelous depth of fruit at the core, with lovely soil signature, ripe, fine-grained tannins, seamless balance and a long, precise and nascently complex finish.
94+ points, John Gilman, View From The Cellar (Apr 2025)
An attractive crimson ruby colour. The fruit is a little more in ripe strawberry here, picked on 9th and only just in time. Very sensual nonetheless on the palate, completely mouthfilling, so though I would have preferred the fruit to have been picked a little earlier, this will be immensely enjoyable for most. Racked and ready to bottle. Drink from 2029-2035. Tasted Oct 2024.
90-93 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Jan 2025)
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