Louis Jadot, 2009, Volnay "Clos De La Barre".

Proceeding from north to south, the commune of Volnay lies roughly at the midpoint of the Côte de Beaune, bordered by Pommard to the northeast, Monthélie to the west and Meursault to the south. Its vineyards cover 517 acres on a south-easterly-exposed slope; 284 of these are occupied by 26 premiers crus stretching across the mid-slope from Pommard to Meursault and 243 are in village level vineyards flanking the premier crus at the crest and the foot of the slope. In addition to this, there are six premier cru parcels at the northern extremity of Meursault, totalling 72 acres, collectively classified as Volnay-Santenots for red wines; white wines produced in the Santenots parcels are classified either as village Meursault or Meursault Premier Cru. Volnay produces only red wines, and though there are no grands crus, the overall level of winemaking is generally of very high quality. Average annual production under the Volnay appellation, including Volnay- Santenots, is approximately 7,345 hectolitres (81,610 cases).

Volnay is the only commune of the Côte d'Or whose village lies above, rather than below, its vineyards. This tiny hamlet, clustered around its 14th-century church, occupies the site, chosen by the early Dukes of Burgundy for the natural beauty of its vistas, purity of its air and excellence of the wines, on which a château was constructed. The château was destroyed in 1749, but the village and its wines endured. Until the late 18th century, the wines of Volnay were vinified as "oeil de perdrix," or pale rosé wines, a style much sought-after at the time and the usual choice of royalty for official celebrations. If it has since acquired colour and body, Volnay remains the Côte de Beaune's most feminine and elegant red wine.

The Clos de la Barre is a tiny vineyard of 3.3 acres lying in the central part of the commune below the village of Volnay between the premier crus of La Bousse d'Or and Les Angles. This walled vineyard, a monopole in the ownership of the Charraux family, was brought in its entirety into the Jadot portfolio through a long-term vineyard contract concluded with the proprietors in 1995. The soils in this mid-section of Volnay's slope, which support the commune's finest premiers crus, contain a marked percentage of iron with lesser amounts of limestone, in contrast to the calcium-dominated soils of the upper slope, over a rocky subsoil. These elements lend bouquet and body to the typical finesse and delicacy characteristic of Volnay. Volnay Clos de la Barre shows a lovely, intense bouquet of refined red fruits with nuances of minerals and earth which are carried onto the complex, beautifully balanced palate. The texture is silky and supple, finishing on a ripe, harmonious note.