Comtes Lafon
Domaine des Comtes Lafon began in 1869 with vines in some of the best plots in Mersualt, Volnay and Le Montrachet. This family estate has been run by Dominique Lafon since 1985. He ended share cropping, key to their surging quality, with some of the best white and great red wine. Their cellars are the deepest in Burgundy.
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Wine Advocate (93+)
Tasted blind, the 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots-du-Milieu offers up a deep bouquet of red-black cherries, spices, potpourri, espresso roast and subtle grilled meat. Full-bodied, ample and sappy on the palate, it's rich but vibrant, with fine-grained structuring tannins that are beginning to assert themselves on the finish. Having drunk several bottles of this wine since release, the extent to which it's shutting down is clearly apparent, and at this stage, patience will be required.HK$15,300.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru was opened by Dominique Lafon just because he wanted to compare with the ensuing two vintages. Who was I to stop him? It is very different in style from those vintages: redder fruit, more transparency, charming, and it wears its heart on its sleeve. The palate is full of slightly peppery red berry fruit, saline and spicy with good grip and a long raspberry and wild strawberry finish. So unbelievably drinkable, even at this early stage you’ll finish bottle.HK$12,170.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru was opened by Dominique Lafon just because he wanted to compare with the ensuing two vintages. Who was I to stop him? It is very different in style from those vintages: redder fruit, more transparency, charming, and it wears its heart on its sleeve. The palate is full of slightly peppery red berry fruit, saline and spicy with good grip and a long raspberry and wild strawberry finish. So unbelievably drinkable, even at this early stage you’ll finish bottle.HK$3,965.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2018 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru has the most intense bouquet of Dominique Lafon’s Volnays this year, intense black cherry scents intermingling with boysenberry and light cassis aromas, all delivered with the utmost detail. The palate offers black cherry and raspberry fruit infused with violets, very fine tannins and gentle grip. The silky-smooth finish fans out gloriously. Stunning.HK$13,255.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2018 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru has the most intense bouquet of Dominique Lafon’s Volnays this year, intense black cherry scents intermingling with boysenberry and light cassis aromas, all delivered with the utmost detail. The palate offers black cherry and raspberry fruit infused with violets, very fine tannins and gentle grip. The silky-smooth finish fans out gloriously. Stunning.HK$3,655.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2019 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru, matured in a little more new oak than the Clos des Chênes (around one-third, according to Lafon), offers a quintessential Santenots nose of almost brazen blueberry and cassis aromas mixed with raspberry and violets. The palate is rounded on the entry and exerts a gentle grip. Opulent but controlled, though this year I find more nuance and sensuality on the Champans, which would be my pick of Lafon’s reds.HK$4,355.00 -
Vinous (92-94)
The 2020 Volnay Les Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru is very well defined on the nose with blackberry, boysenberry, crushed violets and light incense aromas, opulent yet controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with some oak to be subsumed on the entry, modest depth, sleek and sensual with a spicer finish than the Champans. Likewise, it will require 4-6 years in bottle before it is at full flight. Bottled under Diam 30. Closure: Diam 30HK$9,845.00