From a 0.75-hectare parcel of 65-year-old vines, the 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Santenots was not destemmed since the bottom part of the parcel was hit by frost. It has a fragrant bouquet, very floral and more Volnay-like compared to the Volnay Santenots, just more personality and expression. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a lovely silver bead of acidity, very harmonious with a poised, mineral-driven finish. Superb.

The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Santenots comes from the oldest vines in the parcel, more than 55 years old. It clearly has more precision and focus than the younger vines in the Santenots, with notes of blackcurrant, cassis and cold stone. The palate is medium-bodied with well-integrated new oak (50%) with a smooth and quite seductive, blood orange-infused finish that has a pleasant edge. This is one of the best Clos des Santenots that I have tasted from Jacques Prieur.

The 2014 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Santenots, the 1.2-hectare monopole of the domaine, suffered a lot of hail damage apropos the young vines; as a consequence, there are only three barrels of this cuvée and no Volnay Santenots. It has a broody blackberry and briary bouquet, with touches of woodland and wild mushroom underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, straight-laced perhaps but full of freshness and mineralité. All it does not have is the persistence on the finish that a great vintage would have bestowed, but it will still give a decade's worth of pleasure.