Although Domaine de la Pousse D'Or has vineyards reaching back as far as the eighteenth century, it has only existed as it does today since 1964. It is a forward-thinking estate and one which was instrumental in pioneering a new technique for evaporating excess water to re-balance the must, resulting in less need for chaptalisation. It is perhaps unsurprising to learn, in view of this, that Domaine is owned by a consortium of Australian shareholders.
La Pousse d'Or is located a few kilometres from Beaune, in the commune of Volnay. The 13 hectares of vineyard are spread among the communes of Volnay, Pommard, and Santenay, each producing distinctive and stylish wines.
The Volnay Clos de la Bousse d’Or (Cuvée Amphore) is made from old vines (with the oldest dating back to 1958) and the wine is matured for 12 months in Italian terracotta clay amphora that were baked at a maximum of 1,080° Celsius. The tannins tend to be a little finer than in the normal cuvée and it will be a fascinating exercise comparing the two versions of these wines as they age in bottle.
This has the darker fruit, but it shows more sweetly across the palate until the clean dry terracotta finish which replaces the wood tannins, but to some extent emulates them. I have a slight preference for the amphora version over the barrel. Tasted: October 2020