Chavy-Chouet Volnay 1er Cru Sous La Chapelle is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Total acreage for this wine: 0.1 hectare (0.25 acres)Planting density: 10 000 vines per hectares
Age of the vines: 10 years
At the bottom of the slope in the heart of Volnay, this plot lies on clay-sand soil.
Volnay is located on the steep sloping hill of Chaignot in the Côte de Beaune, where the southeast facing vines have been valued for centuries. These vineyards have been valued and exploited for centuries. Long before the French Revolution, the harvests of Volnay went to the Knights of Malta, the Abbeys of Saint-Andoche d’Autun and Maizières, or to the Dukes of Bourgogne and their successors, the Kings of France.
Volnay has a reputation for being among the most delicate, feminine of the Bourgogne wines. Limestone soil dominates the area, with deeper, gravelly soils at the foot of the slope, where Chavy Chouet’s vines are located.
This Volnay is full of character; broad and fruity. Smooth and elegant tannins make it a feminine wine, marked by aromas of black berries and leather.
Argot Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Sonoma Pinot Noir.
Inheriting an unbroken string of success, the "Bastard Tongue" arrives fully-formed and ready to impress. Always a blend from multiple Pinot Noir vineyards, this iteration of "BT" was selected from three distinct sites, each making their own unique contribution of Sonoma County terroir to the wine's character.
Exploding forth on a tidal wave of high-toned, intense red and black fruits, this is a Pinot Noir that no stemware can contain. The palate's profound depth is balanced by an inherent freshness, allowing the wine to crackle with brambly energy, while sustained by bass notes of underbrush, black tea, pie spice and baker's chocolate. A formidable rendition of "Bastard Tongue", and a deserving successor to its line.
Night harvested by hand throughout September, cluster and berry sorted by hand, de-stemmed, no crushing. 7-day cold soaks, followed by native fermentation in open-top bins. Average time on the skins, 14 days. Aging 22 months in French oak barriques (95% new). Never racked prior to bottling. Bottled unfined, unfiltered.
Very versatile for pairing. Goes well with grilled meat, vegetable, fish, poultry and cheese.
Review:
"The 2023 'Bastard Tongue' is an utterly delicious Pinot Noir from Argot. It is both vibrant and expressive, with lifted aromas of raspberries, dark cherries and sweet cranberries woven together with notes of lavender, dried violets, baking spices, tea leaf, and mossy notes that remain persistent throughout. On the palate, it reveals a mouthwatering core of juicy red/dark fruit wrapped in supple tannins, with a gorgeous silky texture that speaks to its finesse. What sets this wine apart is its freshness—bright acidity energizes the layers of flavor, giving the wine a lively structure and a clean, extended finish. It's a Pinot Noir that balances depth and elegance with remarkable complexity." - 97 Points, International Wine Report
"Explosive red fruits, cool pine forest, loamy underbrush, five-spice and bakers chocolate. This wine marches down the palate with red-fleshed strawberries, Luxardo cherries and a hint of blood orange. As the finish spins into infinity, the fruit profile evolves from red to black, crescendoing on the palate's persistent lift of sweet and floral spice notes. Magnificent." - 96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck