2017 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay Les Pitures 1.5L [D94][V92-94][BH91-94][JM90-93][JG92+] WINE

Producer: Domaine Michel Lafarge 
Region:  Volnay, Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France 
Varietal: Pinot Noir 
Year: 2017   

Decanter, 94 Points

“If you like this wine, and plenty of people do, it’s only been available in magnums since 2015, as it ‘lends itself to larger formats’, according to Frédéric Lafarge. Floral and aromatic, with a surgeon’s lightness of touch, this is fresh and focussed, with some cinnamon spice from 30% new wood and underlying weight. Drink: 2023-2030.”

Vinous, 92-94 Points

“The 2017 Volnay Les Pitures 1er Cru has the strictest bouquet amongst Lafarge’s Volnays, tightly coiled but very focused. The palate is structured and grippy, with great depth and mineralité, full of energy but clearly long-term, Given the energy it will be bottled entirely in magnums, which has been the case since the 2015 vintage. This is a vin de garde. Drink: 2024-2045.”

Burghound, 91-94 Points

“(from a small .15 ha holding; this is bottled exclusively in magnum). Once again there is a bracing freshness to the cool and much more deeply pitched nose of plum, red berries, floral and newly turned earth. As one would expect, there is notably more volume and power to the muscular and mineral-inflected large-scaled flavors that conclude in a delicious, mouth coating and very firm finale that coats the mouth with sap. Note that my projected drinking window is based on the large format bottling. Drink: 2037+.”

Jasper Morris, 90-93 Points

“3 barrels, to be bottled only in magnums, suits the wine as well as the volume on offer. Not quite so dense a colour as Pézerolles and a firmer feel to the fruit, then opens out very generously to fill the mouth. Roses and raspberries again, with a slightly more angular feel to the structure, but the same impeccable length. “

John Gilman, 92+ Points

“As I have mentioned in the past, the Lafarge family only owns fifteen ares in Pitures, so this small cuvée is always bottled exclusively in magnums from the domaine. The bouquet is lovely in the 2017, with quite a bit of red fruit infusing the nose (which is almost always very black fruity) in its mix of cherries, a touch of dark berry, pigeon, bonfire, French Roast, dark soil tones and a nice touch of fresh herbs in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, soil-driven and full-bodied, with a fien core of fruit, suave, ripe tannins and excellent balance and focus on the long, nascently complex and utterly classical finish. 2028-2070.” 

Alcohol: 13% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.