Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots du Milieu 1er Cru 2015 (750ML)

92-95 BH / 93-95 WA / 92-94 VM

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

Tasting note: This is also brilliantly spicy with its ultra-pure and pretty essence of black raspberry, floral and warm-earth suffused aromas. Like the Champans there is excellent underlying tension supporting the broad-shouldered flavors that are even more mineral-driven on the muscular, taut and driving finish. This wine always ages well and typically needs quite a bit of it and this terrific effort will be no exception. This could well rival the 1999, 2005 and 2010 versions in time. Allen Meadows – Burghound

The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots was picked over two days on 3 and 4 September. It has a very powerful bouquet with black cherries, raspberry confit and sous-bois notes—all very nicely poised, despite the intensity that this terroir always confers upon its wines. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It is beautifully poised and focused with the mineralité percolating through that carapace of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, leading to an energetic finish that leaves the mouth tingling for a minute or so afterwards. This is a fabulous Volnay from Dominique Lafon and sure to age effortlessly over 20 years with the Champans at its heels. Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate

(entirely destemmed; 20 hectoliters per hectare produced): Bright medium ruby. Darker and more brooding on the nose than the Champans, offering scents of black cherry and blackberry. Densely packed and penetrating, with dark raspberry, medicinal black cherry, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors nicely framed by surprisingly firm acidity. With its substantial but ripe tannins, this wonderfully concentrated, balanced wine seems set for a 25-year life in bottle. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was accessible earlier than the Champans. Stephen Tanzer – Vinous Media