2019 Domaine Joannès Violot-Guillemard Saint-Aubin Sur Le Sentier du Clou Blanc

The 2019 vintage from Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard – which will in fact be released under a new label that foregrounds the involvement of Thierry's son, Joannes, in the family business – is a beautiful wine. Significant percentages of whole clusters have been deftly handled and combined with intelligent cooperage choices to deliver wines with aromatic profiles more reminiscent of the best addresses of the Côte de Nuits than any old-fashioned stereotype of burley and resolutely earthy Pommard. Perfumed, seamless and penetrating, these are a brilliant range of wines. Joannes, my near-contemporary, certainly does not lack self-confidence, but anyone who tastes his 2019 range will have to admit that it is worth it.

The vineyards of 'Sur le Sentier du Clou' are located high in Saint-Aubin next to the vineyards 'Marinot', 'En La Ranche', 'Les Frionnes' and 'Les Travers de Marinot'. A fairly low production for this cuvee, and there is little left to be found. We do know that the wines produced from these vineyards by any producer always achieve high scores. It often produces fresher white wines with a sharp minerality that is identical to Saint-Aubin.