2022 Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle, Cote de Beaune

The 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle is very suave and integrated for a wine that can sometimes be one of the blockier cuvées in the range. Offering up notes of dark berries, cherries and licorice, followed by a medium to fullbodied, ample and layered palate, it’s rich and textural, with ripe tannins and a sweet core of fruit.

94 points William Kelley robertparker.com Drink: 2027-2050 

Walk through the vineyards of Pommard and Volnay, and Thomas Bouley's meticulously tended vines are easy to spot: with high, beautifully spaced canopies and aerated, living soils, they inspire admiration even among the most exacting. His opinions are trenchant, but no one could contend that he doesn't put them into practice. Yet Bouley remains, to a significant extent, a "winemakers winemaker"—someone sometimes more talked about by his neighbors than by collectors overseas who are more readily seduced by social media savoir faire than hard work in the vineyards. It's typical of the domaine's insider status that Thomas's own name doesn't actually appear on the label, and that his finest wine is neither his Pommard Rugiens, nor his Volnay Caillerets, but rather his Pommard Fremiers—a climat one seldom hears spoken of. That will surely change—and soon—but for now, these remain some of the Côte d'Or's finest values, a fact that readers should profit from to acquire some bottles while they can. As I wrote last year, the rudiments of Bouley's approach in the cuverie and cellar are simple: for his terroirs that are richer in clay, he retains significant proportions of stems, whereas stonier sites are largely or entirely destemmed. Macerations are comparatively long, with temperature control only when deemed necessary. In the cellar, the influence of new oak is minimal, and the wines see two winters on the fine lees. This year, we opted to revisit the 2018s in bottle, and they fulfilled all the promise they showed from barrel last year. I also tasted the domaine's 2019s—"in your capacity as an interested wine lover, but not to review," as Bouley put it—but respecting his preference that critics henceforth comment only on finished wines from his domaine, I will confine myself to saying that any readers who have the opportunity to purchase some before I'm able to publish reviews shouldn't hesitate to do so.

William Kelley robertparker.com

Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Carelle sous la Chapelle from Côte de Beaune is a beautifully balanced and refined Pinot Noir, offering both delicacy and depth. This Premier Cru vineyard lies just below the village of Volnay, where the soils are a mix of clay and limestone, lending the wine a combination of richness and elegance. Jean-Marc Bouley, now led by the talented Thomas Bouley, is highly regarded for his precise, terroir-driven winemaking. His wines reflect the purity and charm of each vineyard, with Carelle sous la Chapelle often noted for its silky texture and expressive aromatics.

Bright garnet in color, this Volnay offers an enticing nose of red cherry, wild strawberry, and crushed raspberry, with floral notes of violet and rose petal. Subtle hints of spice, forest floor, and wet stone add complexity. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and silky, with flavors of fresh red berries, savory herbs, and a touch of anise. Fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity give structure and freshness, while the long, elegant finish leaves a lasting impression of mineral precision and delicate spice.

This wine pairs perfectly with roast chicken, duck breast, and herb-crusted pork tenderloin. It also complements mushroom risotto, charcuterie, and soft cheeses like Brie and Chaource. Though approachable in its youth, Carelle sous la Chapelle will continue to develop for 10–15 years, gaining more depth and complexity with time.