Benoît Moreau Volnay 1er Cru Santenots Rouge 2022

Readers will need no reminding that Les Santenots is one of Volnay’s top 1er Cru sites. The best examples from these clay-rich soils are wines of perfumed depth and silken structure—a description that fits Benoît Moreau’s version like a glove. The grapes come from a longstanding contract with the grower (from the Domaine Bernard Moreau days), so now Alex and Benoît Moreau share the fruit. The winemaking is similar, too, with plenty of bunch influence, though Benoît prefers a lighter extraction (no punchdowns) and a minimalist oak regime. Unfurling in waves of floral red fruit, this refined, compact Volnay aged for 16 months in 20% new oak. All class.