Michel Lafarge Volnay ‘Clos du Chateau des Ducs’ Premier Cru 2022

Planted 1946-1985 and 2000. Deep gravel on top of limestone; a walled monopole vineyard. 100% de-stemmed, 2-3-week ambient yeast fermentation, punch-downs and pump-overs, aged for 18 months in barrels (0-15% new), no fining or filtration.

‘‘The 2022 Volnay Clos du Château des Ducs 1er Cru, which was de-stemmed by hand like the Pitures and Caillerets, has a very delineated bouquet, exquisite red berry fruit laced with crushed stone and rose petals. Very precise. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins framing the slightly austere red fruit. Good grip. It veers more towards sapid black fruit with a touch of licorice on the aftertaste. Long-term. Superb. Drink 2029-2055’ (93-95) points, Neal Martin, Vinous Oct 2023

‘Aromas of plums, sweet red berries, peonies, rose petals and dried orange rind preface Lafarge’s 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Château des Ducs, a medium to full-bodied, rich and enveloping wine that’s velvety and layered, with powdery tannins, succulent acids and an attractively complete, seamless profile.’ 92-94 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate Jan 2024

‘More of a crimson red than purple. Less intense than CDC but still with a superb gracefulnesss. Subtly nuanced, less forward than M or CDC but finely nuanced. A little bit of orange zest in the red fruit. A very long finish. Very fine but perhaps not quite best ever. Drink from 2034-2040. Tasted Dec 2023.’ 92-95 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

‘ Note: from 50+ year old vines; a monopole of the domaine; destemmed manually. A cooler and more restrained nose is also wonderfully spicy with its more floral-suffused aromas of essence of red currant, cherry and lavender. The super-sleek and refined middleweight flavors are beautifully delineated, indeed the word chiseled comes to mind, and flash a borderline aggressive minerality on the youthfully austere, firm and focused finale that goes on and on. This is presently not quite as complex as the Caillerets or Clos des Chênes but it’s a wine that always needs time to develop so a minimum of 7 to 8 years of keeping are in order. Drink 2034+ ’ SWEET SPOT OUTSTANDING! 93-95 points, BURGHOUND.COM APR 2024

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