Louis Boillot said that his 2017 vintage was even more abundant than 2018.
He began the harvest in the Côte d’Or twice. On 28 August, he harvested the Caillerets and Les Angles in Volnay. He then went to the Beaujolais to harvest his Moulin-à-Vent, returning to the Côte d’Or on 2 September.
As always, the grapes were entirely de-stemmed. Malo-lactic fermentations were very early, some even finishing in October due of the warm cellars and the very low amounts of malic acid in the grape juice.
2017 Beaune Epenottes
The Beaune, Epenottes is medium-weight with good freshness, clear red currant fruit, and some tannins. From 72 year-old vines just north of Pommard. (88-91)
2017 Pommard
The Pommard is medium-weight, saline and pure with dark and red fruits. The wine has clarity, a smooth texture, and is linear. (90-92)
2017 Volnay Grands Poisots
The Volnay, Grands Poisots is clear in its red fruits and has salinity. It is a bit broader than the Pommard and medium-weight. This is a wine that is very pretty and shows good purity. (90-93)
2017 Volnay 1er Cr Les Angles
Les Angles is not one of the top Volnay premiers crus, yet Boillot has made a brilliant wine from it. The wine has clear, pure red cherry fruit with energy, lightness, and precision. Harvested on 28 August at 13.20% potential alcohol. (92-94)
2017 Volnay 1er Cru Les Brouillards
Another Volnay premier cru vineyard that is not in the first division, but under Boillot’s stewardship makes an outstanding wine. This wine is rounder than the Angles, with salinity, dark cherry fruit, good density, purity, concentration, and length. (92-94)
2017 Volnay 1er Les Caillerets
Here we are at one of Volnay’s greatest vineyards, and it gives just what one would expect: finesse, precision, intense cherry fruit, length, minerality, and freshness. (93-95)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Fremiers
With the Pommard-Fremiers we have the harder tannins, not just of Pommard but also of position on the slope — for one sees them in the adjoining Volnay-Frémiets vineyard, too. The wine features spiced red cherry fruit, lightness on the palate, freshness, minerality, and no rusticity. (92-94)
2017 Pommard 1er Cru Les Croix Noires
Last of the Côte de Beaune wines here, the Pommard-Croix Noires has juicy red cherry and strawberry fruit. The tannins are well-integrated here and the wine has outstanding intensity with more breadth and tension than the Fremiers. (92-95)