Domaine Nicolas Rossignol - Volnay 1er Cru 'Santenots' 2016 (750ml)

(just 12 barrels made from 2.1 hectares, compared to 51 in 2017): Deep, bright ruby-red. Huge, sappy aromas of kirsch and black raspberry are almost liqueur-like but maintain good energy. Incredibly thick yet tangy on entry, then densely packed and extremely concentrated, in more of a 2015 style. And yet the silky, very deep dark fruit and chocolate flavors avoid coming off as heavy. Offers an uncanny combination of solidity and lift. Rossignol told me he destemmed this wine from rocky, iron-rich soil "because it's already massive and too powerful to vinify with stems." Doesn't offer quite the sophistication on the finish as the Cailleret but boasts incredible mouth coverage. The alcohol here is pushing 14%.