Out of all the rare Remoissenet antiques we’ve offered over the years, today’s 1966 Volnay takes “cellar release,” “mature Burgundy,” and “flawless provenance” to the highest, most literal level. As of this writing, each one of today’s perfectly preserved and heliophobic treasures is still resting in Remoissenet’s pitch-black cellar beneath the charming cobblestone streets of Beaune. You read that correctly: this age-defying red Burgundy hasn’t shifted from its original resting place for the entirety of its 54-year life.
Here’s how this epic offer will work: For every bottle we sell, Remoissenet GM/wine legend Pierre Rovani and cellarmaster Bernard Répolt will personally remove it from their subterranean wine museum, and every ‘shiner’ bottle will be cleaned, recorked, labeled, quality checked, and the winners will be topped off with more of the same 1966 Volnay. Yes, that last step inevitably puts a dent in their inventory, but Pierre does it because Remoissenet is a “merchant of pleasure,” meaning the end goal is to deliver a breathtakingly historic and perfectly drinkable mature Burgundy. In order to find an exquisite bottle of 50+-year-old Volnay from a time-honored producer, many consumers would have to put in a substantial grind just to make a high-risk, medium-to-low reward investment. Not with Remoissenet: they remove the gambling and the work, all while delivering a perfectly preserved and downright fascinating 1966 Volnay. If you’re quick enough to pull the trigger, the spiritual drinking experience it brings will stick with you for a lifetime.
[NOTE: This is only available as a pre-offer directly from Remoissenet’s cellar in Burgundy. Once we sell out of our allowed parcel, the order will be sent to Pierre Rovani, who will then begin preparing the wines. Please allow 10-12 weeks for delivery.]
To say that Remoissenet is a historic négociant would be a gross understatement. My first visit in 2007 with my father was an experience I’ll never forget, and has subsequently led to many return visits. Located in the center of Beaune, Pierre takes you through an iron gate and into a building that instantly transports you back to the medieval ages. That’s just the beginning: You then descend a flight of stairs and the temperature begins plummeting with each step until entering a vast cave below. This is Remoissenet’s winery and cellar, built in the 1300s, which connects to the medieval walls of Beaune itself.
The 2005 purchase of Remoissenet ushered in a new era at this historic firm (est. 1877). In addition to bringing in Répolt, who was previously at Louis Jadot, the new ownership team also added journalist-turned-GM Pierre-Antoine Rovani and winemaker Claudie Jobard, all of whom have re-established the property as a quality leader primarily through investments in vineyards and farming. A prime example: Remoissenet-owned vineyards are farmed biodynamically, and all contract growers are closely managed with an eye toward sustainability. Like many of their modern contemporaries, Remoissenet is redefining what it means to be a ‘négociant’ in Burgundy. They are much more than grape buyers and wine labelers—they are fully involved every step of the way.
But the other distinguishing feature (if not already obvious by now) of Remoissenet is its immense, museum-like collection of back-vintage bottlings. We’ve seen them firsthand while strolling through the catacombs with Répolt and Rovani—stacks of dusty “shiner” bottles, a miniature chalkboard hanging from one of the necks with the vintage and vineyard inscribed. And that, my friends, is where today’s ancient offer currently resides. For a wine geek, it’s more exciting than an amusement park ride, especially when you get to pull the cork on and literally taste history. Note: Since this parcel has yet to be labeled in Beaune, we had to do a little photo doctoring, so don't be alarmed when your bottles arrive with a slightly different aesthetic.
Because (1) today’s special offer saw over five decades of perfect cellaring and (2) painstaking quality measures were carried out prior to shipping, Remoissenet’s 1966 Volany will stun a room with its age-defying freshness and seductive aromatics. First time experiencing a legitimately mature Burgundy? I’m jealous. That’s not to say I don’t still thoroughly enjoy ancient bottlings—they’re among the finest wine experiences on earth—but you simply can’t replicate your first encounter with one. This is a velvety smooth Volnay with zero edges and angles. It’s all about the suppleness of dried blackberry, plum, and cherry, and the slow unraveling of secondary/tertiary notes: underbrush, dried herbs, black tea, soft baking spices, crushed rocks, damp leaves, mushroom stock, truffle, and vintage leather. Savor it slowly around 60 degrees in Burgundy stems and pour small amounts, 2-3 ounces, so as not to rush the onset of oxygen. It’ll keep evolving over the evening, and I strongly suggest you pace yourself because that final glass will be the absolute highlight (and also the nadir if it's your only bottle) of your evening. Cheers!
