(91-94 points) Once again there is liqueur-like character to the aromas of red cherry, passion fruit, spice and pretty floral elements. There is excellent volume to the caressing and palate coating flavors that are...

En Champans is on a steep slope and combines three different soil types: clay, limestone and sand. This is quite a firm, grippy, savoury style of Volnay with lots of sap and grip, some appealing floral scents, red cherry and bramble fruit and a combination of 50% whole bunches and 30% new wood.

(90 - 93 points) The 2018 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans is muscular and more introverted than the series of Beaune premiers crus that proceeded it, unwinding with a deep-pitched bouquet of cassis, smoked meats and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, firm and muscular, the raw materials are promising, but the wine was a little inscrutable.- WK

(91-93 points) The 2018 Volnay Les Champans 1er Cru includes 50% whole cluster and has a much more floral bouquet than the Mitans, with wilted rose petal percolating through the red fruit. The well-balanced palate is tannic on the entry. The brisk, terse finish indicates that it is in for the long haul. I like the salinity here. A rather uncompromising but satisfying/challenging Volnay. -- Neal Martin