About Nicolas Rossignol
Nicolas Rossignol comes from a Volnay family that has grown vines for generations, and he began bottling under his own name in 1994 before setting up a purpose built cellar in Beaune. The domaine is assembled from many small parcels rather than a few large ones, which is why the range is so long: Volnay premier crus including Les Chevrets, Taillepieds and Caillerets, Pommard premier crus Chapponières and Les Jarollières, and Beaune premier cru sites alongside village and regional wines. He ferments with varying proportions of whole bunches and keeps the wines in cask well past the usual eighteen months, releasing later than most of his neighbors.
Volnay and Pommard face each other across a boundary that changes the wine completely, and Rossignol bottles both. Our Burgundy Wines and Pinot Noir pages cover more of the same ground, and Grand Cru Wines holds the top of the Côte d'Or.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nicolas Rossignol best known for?
Volnay premier cru, and in particular Les Chevrets and Taillepieds. His Pommard bottlings have a following too, and they show the firmer side of the Côte de Beaune.
Why are the wines released so late?
He keeps them in barrel and then in bottle longer than the regional norm, on the view that they show better once the oak and structure have knit. It means current releases are often several years behind other domaines.
Is Nicolas Rossignol related to Rossignol-Trapet?
The families share a name and Burgundy roots but these are separate estates. Rossignol-Trapet is based in Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits, while Nicolas Rossignol works in Volnay and Beaune.
How long do Rossignol wines age?
The Volnay premier crus generally want eight to ten years from the vintage and hold for twenty. Pommard asks for a little longer. Because they are released late, less waiting is needed after purchase than the vintage suggests.