Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots du Milieu 1er Cru 2013 (1.5L)

91 BH / 91-93 WA

Note: from 40+ year old vines planted in shallow, high clay content soil sitting on a bed of solid rock; 15 hl/ha

Tasting note: A notably fresh nose features aromas of kirsch, spice, red currant and herbal tea that slide gracefully into intense, delineated and muscular medium-bodied flavors that exude a fine minerality onto the mildly austere finale. I like the complexity and this is a wine that could probably be approached after 5 to 7 years of bottle age yet should be capable of rewarding 10 to 12. Outstanding – Allen meadows – Burghound

There are just three barrels of the Volnay 1er Cru Santenots du Milieu this year. It has a dense and concentrated raspberry and wild strawberry bouquet interlaced with minerals, backward and broody as usual. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, a crisp level of acidity and a finish not unlike the Champans, although this is more opaque and standoffish. In my mind the Volnay Champans has a little more panache, but this has the substance to suggest long-term cellaring will be repaid. Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate