External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2002
2001
2000
1999
1997
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.4 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 18 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Alvinho on 8/7/2022 & rated 92 points: Daughter Birthday s yearly burgundy 2022
Excellent
Great fruit balance and body
I d say it has five to ten years ahead easily
Great label (551 views) | | | Tasted by DoubleMagnum on 6/2/2020 & rated 91 points: Medium ruby in color. Clear appearance. No sediment visible. Medium intensity on the nose with notes of strawberry, raspberry, cedar and soil. Dry but full of fruit on the palate. Very ripe, almost new world ripeness. The wife asked if it was CdP. I wouldn't go that far but with what I've seen coming out of California & Oregon recently, I don't know if on a blind I'd call Burgundy, let alone Volnay on this. The ripeness reminds me of 2009 and close to 2003. Acid is medium plus, tannins are slightly under medium and rounded. Mouthfeel is silky and delicate. Alcohol is in check. No heat perceived. The finish is medium. Not the most complex Volnay I've had but this is a village wine. It still has some time to develop more tertiaries in my opinion. But it's drinking so well right now, I'd find it very hard to resist. (979 views) | | | Tasted by Tartiflette on 8/31/2019 & rated 90 points: Short decant. Quite closed in the beginning. Very soft and muted. Good fruit and very little acidity. Quite charming in an underplayed kind of way. Not much life expectancy left. (984 views) | | | Tasted by portman63 on 8/31/2017 & rated 91 points: Soft and accessible wine which gains body and fruit intensity over a few hours. Not meant to be a long ager, seems just the right time for this vintage in the village level. It is red fruit dominated with fine tannins and a nice finish. Really nice paired with baked salmon on a weekday evening without much fuss.. (1608 views) | | | Tasted by drwine2001 on 10/13/2016: Another Evening of Lafon in Red and White (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Light and limpid. Completely different aromatics than the '09-lifted, fragrant, and full of soil. Strawberry fruit on the attack followed by a savory, licorice finish, fine acidity, and dissolving (or dissolved) tannins. Now this was very Volnay and altogether very fine village wine. (2454 views) | | | Tasted by propapapa on 6/29/2016 & rated 88 points: amazing nose. Grandpas attic. Campfire. Smells like foie gras. Palate is a bit volcanic. Ok. Maybe a lot volcanic. Ashy. Interesting but I don't love it. 3/5 also doesn't taste that old. (1706 views) | | | Tasted by DougLee on 1/16/2016 & rated 87 points: Sweet and somewhat sour red fruit on the palate with not a lot of depth or complexity. Did not change with three hours of air. Pleasant enough but not much more. (1899 views) | | | Tasted by drwine2001 on 5/8/2014: A Few Lafon Meursaults and Volnays (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Light ruby. Equal mix of faded red fruit and soil aromatics with a dash of florality. Delicate and crisp. Much more Volnay character than the 2009 and a very nice drink right now. Not as exciting or deep as the Santenots du Milieu we recently had, but right where it should be. (3003 views) | | | Tasted by BurgAndy on 8/11/2013: Wow, this is just drinking beautifully. Ripe dark red fruit and cut flowers on the nose followed by lush, perfectly ripe stone fruit, its pit, a bit of black licorice, with a touch of mineral and acid on the palate. Real nice midpalate, great length. Great mouthfeel. There's just this little touch of astringency on the finish -- but this is so minor in the grand scheme of things. Restrained hedonism -- still a bit New World, but now tamed. Great juice. (2459 views) | | | Tasted by markjanes on 10/22/2012 & rated 90 points: Couples dinner on a cold, breezy fall night. (Reno, NV): I have had about 5 or 6 of these now and continue to have the same impression of the wine... stylistically it is a generous and easy to like Old World pinot that has offers some minerality and classic Burgundy structure for those who like their PN old school and some fruit intensity and flesh on the midpalate that pleases those New World PN fans. I agree with BurgAndy it isn't particularly Volnay right now and is as much 09 as 07 with all the charm and fruit intensity. I still think if it were blind on an exam I would call it Old World based on its palate which is for me at least, is distinctly Old World because of its firm and minerally palate shape (the aromatic intesnity of fruit and charming style I suppose point to the New World a bit). Over the past 6 months the wine has been opening up aromatically so I think it won't peak for another year or so. (2909 views) | | | Tasted by BurgAndy on 10/18/2012: Nose is rich, perfumed, slightly candied, and Cali in character. Much of the same on the palate, with ripe red and dark fruit, some spice box, a mineral streak, and a kaleidoscopic finish. Not sure that I would have guessed Volnay or '07 blind. There's a lot of material here -- I'd hold this one for a bit and let it flesh out, lose its baby fat, and wait for this to get a bit more focused and shed its anonymity. Great potential and some serious evolutionary change (not really for the better) since I last had this one about a year ago. Drank over two days. (2168 views) | | | Tasted by Papies on 6/19/2012 & rated 89 points: The wines of of Comtes Lafon, with James Handford MW (Handford Wines, London): Ripe, good fruit and acidity. Feels a touch new world in the level of extraction, smoky notes. Very nice village wine. 89-90 (2547 views) | | | Tasted by markjanes on 5/7/2012 & rated 88 points: identical notes... drink now or hold 2-3. (1503 views) | | | Tasted by markjanes on 1/23/2012 & rated 88 points: Light depth of color, ruby rim showing a decent amount of extraction... aromatically a bit closed right now with plenty of minerals, some simple cherry aromas, some florality, no new oak barrique influence I can detect... on the palate the wine has high acidity, low alcohol, a firm midpalate that still has that Pinot midpalate lushness, and a low to moderate amount of tannins that are firm and of average ripeness. Great balance, good length, shutting down a bit so losing some intensity of aroma, average complexity for the time being... great finesse, great texture, classic expression of place. Stylistically I think it is misleading to describe this as New World in anyway (New World pinot would have more dark fruit, more new oak use, higher alcohol, much less minerality, a much sweeter midpalate, a softer palate shape) and for me falls into the light colored, light but firm mouthfeel, restrained, minerally, old barrique aged pinot camp of which it is a very good example at this level of quality... drink now or hold 1-3 years. (1413 views) | | | Tasted by ovenmitt on 1/14/2012 & rated 89 points: Medium red. Nose had a pronounced dry dirt quality that took a long time blow off. Aside from that it wasn't real expressive - some red cherrie cranberry. Nice earthiness and good balance with good fruit and medium finish. I think in three years this will be very solid. (1168 views) | | | Tasted by BurgAndy on 12/9/2011: This is superior to the 2006 Lafon Volnay. Great example of what red and blue fruit tastes like. New World. This is big Volnay -- bright fruit with a subtle mineral streak running through it. Young vine Santenots. Very different from minerally Volnay like that from folks like D'Angerville. (1246 views) | | | Tasted by BigJul on 10/21/2011 & rated 89 points: Le CR de Burghound est en tout point similaire à mes impressions. Matière mûre, riche et ronde. Finale surprenante de longueur. 89-90 (1343 views) |
| By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jan/Feb 2014, Issue #49, The Vastly Underrated and Supremely Elegant 2007 Red Burgundies
(Volnay- Domaines des Comtes Lafon) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, May/Jun 2012, Issue #39, Domaine des Comtes Lafon: Meursault’s and the Mâconnais’ Greatest Estate
(Volnay- Domaine des Comtes Lafon) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Allen Meadows
Burghound, 2nd Quarter, 2009, Issue #34
(Domaine Comtes Lafon Volnay Villages Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, March/April 2009, IWC Issue #143
(Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/28/2009)
(Dom des Comtes Lafon Volnay Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jan/Feb 2009, Issue #19, The 2007 Burgundy Vintage: Delightful Reds and Brilliant Whites
(Volnay AC- Comtes Lafon) Login and sign up and see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of View From the Cellar and Burghound and Vinous and JancisRobinson.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Domaine des Comtes Lafon Producer websitePinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBurgundy Les vins de Bourgogne (Bureau interprofessionnel des vins de Bourgogne) (and in English)
Burgundy - The province of eastern France, famous for its red wines produced from Pinot Noir and its whites produced from Chardonnay. (Small of amounts of Gamay and Aligoté are still grown, although these have to be labeled differently.) The most famous part of the region is known as the Cote d'Or (the Golden Slope). It is divided into the Cote de Beaune, south of the town of Beaune (famous principally for its whites), and the Cote de Nuits, North of Beaune (home of the most famous reds). In addition, the Cote Chalonnaise and the Maconnais are important wine growing regions, although historically a clear level (or more) below the Cote d'Or. Also included by some are the regions of Chablis and Auxerrois, farther north.
Burgundy Report | Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne - na stejné téma od Heleny Baker
# 2013 Vintage Notes:
* "2013 is a vintage that 20 years ago would have been a disaster." - Will Lyons
* "low yields and highly variable reds, much better whites." - Bill Nanson
* "Virtually all wines were chaptalised, with a bit of sugar added before fermentation to increase the final alcohol level." - Jancis Robinson
# 2014 Vintage Notes:
"We have not had such splendid harvest weather for many years. This will ensure high quality (fragrant, classy and succulent are words already being used) across the board, up and down the hierarchy and well as consistently from south to north geographically apart from those vineyards ravaged by the hail at the end of June." - Clive Coates
# 2015 Vintage Notes:
"Low yields and warm weather allowed for ample ripeness, small berries and an early harvest. Quality is looking extremely fine, with some people whispering comparisons with the outstanding 2005 vintage. Acid levels in individual wines may be crucial." - Jancis Robinson
# 2017 Vintage Notes:
"Chablis suffered greatly from frost in 2017, resulting in very reduced volumes. As ever, the irony seems to be that what remains is very good quality, as it is in the Côte d’Or. Cooler nights across the region have resulted in higher-than-usual acidity, with good conditions throughout the harvest season allowing for ripe, healthy fruit." - Jancis Robinson
# 2018 Vintage Notes:
"The most successful region for red Burgundy in 2018 was the Côte de Beaune. The weather was ideal in this area, with just enough sunlight and rain to produce perfectly balanced wines naturally." - Vinfolio
Côte de Beaune
Côte de Beaune (Bureau interprofessionnel des vins de Bourgogne)
Vineyard maps on weinlagen.infoVolnay Vineyard maps on weinlagen.de |
|
