Tasted at the Clos des Chênes vertical in London, the 1971 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes could have been a knockout wine considering how fecund this growing season was. Yet it never quite delivers. Mature in color with a wide tawny rim, it had a light, slightly fatigued bouquet with open-knit red fruit, mahogany bureau and orange peel. But like the palate, it feels a little faded at first, gathering strength with aeration but never taking full flight. It is certainly not undrinkable and I suspect that any larger format bottles would be great. This is just a bit...ordinary. Tasted November 2015.