Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay Clos de Chenes 1er Cru 2023

. Original price: . Final price: $279.99

Pinot Noir from old-vine, upper–mid-slope parcels in Clos des Chênes on very shallow, stony limestone with thin brown clay; the domaine farms biodynamically and harvests by hand. Fruit is rigorously sorted, with a measured share of whole clusters when stems are perfectly ripe, then fermented with indigenous yeasts in open vats with gentle extraction. Élevage runs 14–18 months in older 228-L pièces with no new oak and minimal racking; SO₂ is added only after malolactic, and bottling is done without fining and with only a light filtration if needed.

Professional Scores

96

Lafarge's Clos des Chênes 2023 is a superb wine. The initial attack boasts ripe plum and blackberry fruit with floral notes and a savoury edge, which Frédéric Lafarge puts down to the high iron content of the soil. This year, the density and tannic grip from this vineyard are impressive, perhaps even better than Les Caillerets (also delightful); this has a similar profile but more weight. The wine should open in three to five years and drink well over the next three decades.(CC)

Decanter

750ml