This is quite a bit riper than its 2012 counterpart with very fresh aromas of black cherry, raspberry, spice and exotic tea nuances. The medium-bodied flavors possess exemplary mid-palate concentration as the copious dry extract really coats the palate and does a fine job of buffering the phenolically mature tannins that are quite firm but not hard. I very much like the seductive texture and overall this robust effort is going to need plenty of time in a cool cellar as it is clearly built to age. 2024+

92+ Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots du Milieu showed just a touch of reduction, but otherwise there is appreciable blackberry and briary fruit here, tertiary/woodland scents with just a splash of balsamic. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, good backbone, more backward than its peers and probably befitting another 12 months in bottle. Broody perhaps? Yet there is appreciable balance and its sturdiness will soften with time. - Neal Martin