Domaine Marquis d'Angerville, located in Volnay, Burgundy, is an historic estate renowned for its pioneering role in estate bottling and for holding the prestigious 2.15-hectare monopole, Clos des Ducs, which can be traced back to 1507.
Purchased by Baron du Mesnil in 1804, the estate passed to Sem d'Angerville in 1906, who led the movement towards estate-bottled wines and helped establish the AOC system. Prior to this date, wines were exported in barrels, and bottled at final destination, Sem d’Angerville questioned the authenticity of the contents of some of his “American” bottled wines and, rather than lose the market, decided to introduce estate bottling to ensure the authenticity of his wine.
Guillaume launches the new Marquis d'Angerville 2024 wines at Corney&Barrow HQ
Guillaume d'Angerville who took over in 2003, after the premature death of his father, had a successful 20-year career in international investment banking with J.P. Morgan. He worked in New York, Paris and London, eventually serving as the head of J.P. Morgan's French investment banking business, but crucially went home to work every harvest.
Guillaume attended St Peter’s Catholic School in Bournemouth as a 12-year-old to learn English; his father, who did not speak a word of English, realised the importance of the language to the future of the domaine and his son’s career.
Domaine Marquis d'Angerville is renowned for creating elegant, long-lived, and refined wines. The estate uses its own clonal selections, dubbed ‘Pinot d'Angerville’ which are known for producing small berries. The family was instrumental in creating the Burgundy AOC system, and currently, Guillaume is involved in the preservation of the region's heritage as president of the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne.
Guillaume’s brother-in-law Renaud de Villette works alongside him, and Margot his daughter is following in the family hierarchy.
The estate consists of approximately 16.5 hectares, with 11.5 hectares of Premier Cru Volnay. Clos des Ducs (Monopole): A 2.15-hectare parcel on a steep, south-east facing slope, which is the prized possession of the domaine. Other key holdings include Champans, Taillepieds, Caillerets, and Clos des Angles.
Following the advice of his close friend, the late Anne-Claude Leflaive, Guillaume began converting the domaine to biodynamics in 2006. He credits these practices with improving the vines' resilience to climate change and lowering pH levels for better acidity
In 2012, Guillaume established Domaine du Pélican in Arbois, Jura. A blind tasting where he mistook a Jura Chardonnay for high-quality Burgundy inspired this move. He now manages 15 hectares there, focusing on both local varieties (Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau) and traditional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
We were treated to a glass of Brut S (100% Savagnin) Zero Domaine du Pelican, 2020, this sparkling wine cannot be called a crémant, but it certainly delivers quality. Toasty brioche on the nose with lemon wax and ginger on the palate.
The 2024 vintage
The 2024 vintage was described by Guillaume as not only the worst vintage he has personally experienced but possibly also in the entire history of the estate. However, the wines that were produced, and in small quantities deliver great quality.
Corney & Barrow Bourgogne Aligoté 2024
This is an own label Corney & Barrow exclusive; orchard notes with lime, clean cut, fresh with some waxy lemon pith.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Bourgogne Blanc 2024
Unpeeled ripe stone fruit, crunchy, clean cut with racy crisp green apple acidity, benefits from 6 months on lees to give elegance combined with a clean cut freshness.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Meursault 1er Cru Santenots 2024
Beautiful, peeled stone fruit, white nectarines, hints of vanilla and cedar, creamy but focused, mouth filling with a glow, pink grapefruit pith, textured, energetic and wonderful.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Bourgogne Passetoutgrains 2024
50% Gamay, 50% Pinot Noir; crisp and clean, no new oak, delivers a focused, fresh wine with cherries and flinty notes, with a hint of spice.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Bourgogne Rouge 2024
Delicate, refined, perfumed nose, raspberry freshness, crunchy with mineral notes and a delicate, creamy feel – quality wine benefiting from accessing de-classified grapes from the finer vineyards.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 2024
This is its ‘village’ Volnay, light purple colour, darker nose, crunchy fruit with a clean freshness, Lovely lingering perfume on the nose.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru 2024
Normally sourced from two premier cru parcels (Mitans and Pitures), but this vintage has been enhanced with grapes from four prestige sites, making this pretty unique and exceptional value for this quality. It is discreet with a gentle perfume, evolving into the glass with a clean focus, summer roses and bright, precise raspberries, poised and beautiful.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2024
Gentle nose of raspberry ripple ice cream, great balance between the savoury minerality and gentle red berries, touch of spice, lifting this elegant wine. Aromatics continue giving it an air of authority.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs, Monopole 2024
Crystal clear with a refined perfume of tangerine, rhubarb and dark raspberries. Light and delicate on the palate delivering that classic Volnay elegance, purity, precision, and above all succulent, pristine, red berries.
Wines served with lunch
Lunch included some fabulous razor clams served with marinated fennel and lemon drizzled sourdough crumbs, followed by new season lamb with Jersey Royals and asparagus, before an onion tart spiced with anchovies.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Meursault 1er Cru Santenots 2020
Delicate and refined, clean and focused – this grew in the glass, a luscious, focused Meursault that was picked a week earlier than normal at the height of Covid.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2015
Dark in colour, full flavour with a dark fruited nose, in the glass the wine opens up but continues to have depth and full body elegance.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2009
A classic, gorgeous purity and precision light in colour, drinking so well, balsamic perfumed nose, then the most elegant and refined palate, seamless class and just wow appeal.
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Champans 2020
Dark colour with a purple hue, youthful, dark red berries with a lovely hedonistic perfume, plums, dark cherries, spices and rose buds. A wine to age.
In summary a wonderful jovial tasting and lunch with great company with both father and daughter sharing wonderful stories and wine in a perfect setting. Many thanks.
These wines are imported and sold in the UK through Corney & Barrow which is a commercial partner of The Buyer. To discover more about the company click here.
