"Volnay is the stronghold of the family estate. Nestled mid-slope with a clay, marl and limestone terroir, this village of 207 hectares has 29 Premier Crus. The Domaine's parcel of "Les Mitans", which comes from the word "milieu", or "middle" is beautifully situated on the mid-slope, where it receives early morning sun. It is composed of widely varied soils and sub-soils. Limestone scree is found at the top, and the mother rock cuts through the center, leaving room for deeper clay at the bottom. This diversity delivers a complexity can be found in the wine. The nose of "Les Mitans" is often very floral with violet and Oriental spice nuances accompanying notes of small black fruits (blackberries, black currants and black cherries.) On the palate, the frame is dense and tight but the tannins are velvety, which gives the wine gentle sweetness and voluptuous texture. The finish is spicy, svelte and elegant. This is probably the most sensual – even carnal – Volnay of the Domaine. Domaine de Montille is known to craft wines with great aromatic purity, always favoring balance and elegance over power and extraction. The wines are classic expressions of Burgundy, produced in the most natural way possible and possessing an impressive ability to age, as the family believes only time can reveal the true potential of the greatest wines. The domaine's current style remains faithful to Hubert's natural and idealistic approach, which demanded considerable patience while waiting for appropriate drinking windows for certain vintages. Etienne, however, has taken up the task to bring greater aromatic expression and silkier and more unctuous textures to the reds, allowing them to drink earlier, without compromising their ability to age. The domaine is known in Burgundy, among others such as Arlot, DRC, Dujac and Leroy, to regularly vinify using a significant proportion of whole clusters, varying by cuvée and by vintage. The Domaine has practiced organic viticulture since 1995. Today, our wines are certified by Ecocert. Additionally, since 2005, biodynamic practices have been implemented to show our full respect for these living soils." de Montille
"(from a .73 ha holding in Mitans proper; 100% whole clusters). Here the pretty but highly restrained nose only grudgingly displays its array of plum, black cherry, anise and violet scents. Much like the Champans, the mouthfeel of the medium weight flavors is delicate but quite punchy with good minerality surfacing on the chalky, youthfully austere and nicely long finish. This is lovely, though a wine that will need to develop better depth with time in bottle." Burghound 91p
"The 2020 Volnay Les Mitans 1er Cru is 100% whole cluster this year. Touches of white pepper and clove infuse the red fruit undergrowth and hints of autumn leaves gradually evolving with time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins on the entry. There is a mixture of red and black fruit with a touch of black pepper and allspice towards the structured (again) Pommard-like finish." Vinous 94p
