External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.2 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 69 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by AudunG on 1/13/2024 & rated 93 points: Dark and dense color. Dark and cool cherry aromas, leather and some forest floor. Large scaled, tight and firm on the palate, but also some mature softness. Surprisingly much fruit left, which suggests a long life ahead. I guess there is an upside potential here. (800 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 12/2/2023 & rated 93 points: 1st of 6, opened an hour then decanted an hour, perfect cork and level - dark glossy ruby, little rim development; slightly sour cherry, earthy minerality, hint of sous bois, attractive and layered; fullish, weight of Santenots, richness and some elegance to the fruit but no transparency in this vintage, long, persistent and with good concentration, attractive purity, though slightly simple as yet, ie less layered on palate than nose, upside, 20+ years. F+ (18) for now.......has come on well over last 10 years when it was oversized and awkward. (770 views) | | | Tasted by drwine2001 on 5/20/2023: Opened 4 hours before serving. Healthy ruby with minimal fading. Aggressive oak resin tones which subsided to some extent to show more sour cherry aromas. Medium weight. There is nice tart red fruit and soil here, but the wood takes over mid-palate through the finish to leave a gritty, astringent impression. Still young to be sure, but I found its lack of balance and subtlety to be massively disappointing. (1702 views) | | | Tasted by jamesabdavis on 11/26/2022: Earthy, spicy, nose with ripe black fruits and a metallic, slightly medicinal tang. Fresh though, and complex. Alcohol is noticeable.
On the palate this is much more elegant, the fruit a touch redder, perhaps fading a bit. Lots of acidity and tannins still holding the fort. Overall the elements are all there.
This is a bit disjointed and my guess would be that the structure will outlive the fruit but it might still come together. I have one more bottle: I will drink it in a decade and see. (1545 views) | | | Tasted by porkandsalmon on 3/17/2022: Ripe very spicy fruit, still a fair amount of tannin, good acidity and a touch of ethyl acetate. If I tried this blind would not guess Pinot Noir never mind Volnay. Interesting but overdone. (2422 views) | | | Tasted by TheFoodieTraveler on 1/18/2022 & rated 94 points: Bright black and red fruit, spicy, nice minerality. I really love this wine. (2282 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 8/30/2021: Opened 2 hours before a tasting; no decant. Dark red, compex and spicy nose; higher acid than many of the other wines. 6/8 in tasting. (2578 views) | | | Tasted by Warren23 on 6/6/2021: Gorgeous again! Wine of the night. (2489 views) | | | Tasted by AValdes on 12/25/2020 & rated 90 points: Reasonable at 21. Color beginning to thin. Fruit stood up. Not too acidic. Didn’t give a lot on the nose but nice going down. (2549 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 7/8/2020 & rated 90 points: Dense and brooding with vitamins, cherry coke and meat. Better than few years ago. Upside from aging. 90-91 (2768 views) | | | Tasted by WineTally on 6/23/2020: 100% Pinot Noir
from east-facing 3.78 ha (actually all within Meursault) of
heavy red clay on a hard limestone subsoil,
biodynamically farmed and certified organic since 1998.
Vines (for this vintage) planted in 1944, 62, 65, 78.
3-week (total) maceration with 2-week fermentation.
Aged ~22 months in barrels (~1/3 new)
13.5% Abv.
Proprietor/Winemaker: Dominique Lafon
A(ccuracy)=2: Med deep garnet/brick rim. Ripe, mature varietal.
B(alance)=2: High extract components with dense structure.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, plum, tobacco.
D(epth)=2: Textured mouthfeel. Great length and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,2,2,2] = 8/10
"Modern" high-extract style.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
[https://www.instagram.com/WineTally2020/]
For a unique multimedia resource, see
[https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette2020] (2256 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 1/26/2020: (Mostly) Burgundy Dinner with Friends (Republique - Los Angeles CA): Served double blind. Very dense and powerful, this was still brooding. It was hinting at its potential with good power (even while clearly not Grand Cru density), and from a ripe, powerful, backward vintage. I certainly enjoyed this wine, just didn't find the enchanting "Volnay" character I remember it having when tasted multiple times in its first decade after release. While I don't own any, I'd suggest others hold them for further evolution and complexity to emerge. (3161 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 12/15/2018 & rated 85 points: HDH December auction; 12/13/2018-12/15/2018 (Chicago, IL): Nothing overtly flawed here, but this isn't a great bottle at all. Really ripe black fruit on the nose, as well as a slight hint of volatility. The palate's better than the nose and shows a bit of oak. Not particularly interesting -- pretty much explains why I got rid of all of mine a while ago. (4652 views) | | | Tasted by rossi.wine on 9/20/2018 & rated 94 points: Earthy, smoky, notes of dark fruit - perfumed and expressive and absolutely gorgeous on the nose. On the palate layered and dense, still lots of grip, great acidity, very well balanced. Very long. 93-95 (3559 views) | | | Tasted by doctornoah on 4/10/2017 & rated 88 points: Lovely aromatics but seriously burly. This is "Hearty Burgundy" (5155 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 8/17/2016 & rated 87 points: Cherry coke, dark currant, and meat on nose and palate. Almost like a young barolo. Very austere. (5640 views) | | | Tasted by HowardNZ on 5/18/2016: Mainly Pinots Dinner with Peter Rosback: The two 1996s were very much a pair and separated by this wine which had quite a different profile. A good, but very young seeming wine. Bright red colour. A bouquet of red and dark berries and cherries. Young assertive and driven. Dark cherries, hung meats and earth. I thought this wine was a Burgundy from the late noughties. This Volnay needs a minimum of 10 more years in the cellar. (6649 views) | | | Tasted by portman63 on 4/27/2016 & rated 93 points: Absolutely fabulous! I had a 2001 recently which seemed good, but near end of life. This was rich and delicious and showing like it had years left in it, though. Much deeper and penetrating cherry color than the 01. As if it was a cherry stained glass window. A little earthy, but more minerality to match the fruit. Stayed amazing the whole evening and never fell off a bit. Have to get more since this vintage will be improving for a while. (4829 views) | | | Tasted by Dehrmann on 3/19/2016 & rated 91 points: Dark, cherry color, somewhat austere, meaty and somewhat dense...very long...needs a few more years (4845 views) | | | Tasted by Warren23 on 3/12/2016 & rated 94 points: Just great again, almost 2 1/2 years since the last bottle. Still a little young, with beautiful notes of black cherry and oak. Still very lively, with tannins, and just gorgeous. (1863 views) | | | Tasted by jrobs7777 on 4/7/2015: Very curious wine, this. Does not have typical vibrancy and "airy-ness" of a Santenots and that delicate floral and perfumed note seems to be missing. In fact, this is quite dense for a Santenots, in my view. Darker in color. Still young. Mushroom, loam and blue fruit. Nice to drink but out of character, which seems to be reflected in conflicting professional reviews. (4151 views) | | | Tasted by Matt Neel on 3/18/2015: Wineberserkers Eat Duck in Midtown (Peking Duck House (Midtown), NYC): Blood, with the barest edge of bricking. Once some initial (strong) funk blew off, the nose was very meaty, bloody; black cherry juice and blood spilled over dry stones in a vineyard battle; then, suddenly, dried roses; overall a beautiful bouquet but primary. The palate is the same as the nose, very primary. Killer balance, tannin in excellent control. Terrific, tannic length. Yum. Try in ~5 years. (4465 views) | | | Tasted by honest bob on 12/7/2014 & rated 88 points: From 75cl, perfect cork. Opened 1 hour. Simple, pleasantly tart redcurrant-style Burgundy in a medium-bodied style. Tannins quite fine, but not fully resolved. Dry finish. No complexity, depth or secondary charcteristics identifiable to us. We enjoyed drinking this young, fresh wine (accompanying a wonderful free-range chicken), but did feel it to be about 40% overpriced at the 50 EUR we paid, and ludicrously overvalued at current auction prices. True Believers will surely wait patiently for the appearence of the Holy Grail, but I'm not sad that this was my last bottle, and won't be rebuying. 88-(89)?P (4300 views) | | | Tasted by galenico on 12/4/2014 & rated 92 points: BORGOGNA 1999 (RISTORANTE GATTO NERO TORINO): Degustato alla cieca. Di non facile caratterizzazione, molto denso, viola inchiostro più da Barbera che da Pinot, in bocca è ancora quasi primario, materico e di grande freschezza balsamica. Molta classe e pregevole fattura, buonissimo, ricorda un grande Barbaresco.
Da attendere dieci anni per vedere se la terziarizzazione porterà complessità nuova. (4409 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 9/23/2014 & rated 90 points: Given comments here decanted this an hour or so before tasting. Deep ruby, intense Pinot nose, but clearly still pretty clenched on the palate. This was more similar to an 06 Aubert Reuling Pinot served later in the evening to some of the other Burgundies (98 Hudelot-Noellat RSV, 99 Faiveley Clos de Beze) which preceded it. This is still intense and very primary at age 15; needs at least another 5 or 10 years if it will ever show some secondary complexity. (4326 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (8/4/2020)
(Dom des Comtes Lafon, Santenots du Milieu Premier Cru Volnay Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, The Glorious 1999 Red Burgundies (Mar 2018) (3/18/2018)
(Domaine Des Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots-du-milieu 1er Cru Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/27/2017)
(Dom des Comtes Lafon, Santenots du Milieu Premier Cru Volnay Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jasper Morris
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy, Domaine des Comtes Lafon: Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu (9/1/2013)
(Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru, Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Bonus Articles, Volnay: Secret village of Burgundy Insiders (February 2003)
(Volnay “Santenots du Milieu”- Comtes Lafon) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/27/2002)
(Dom des Comtes Lafon, Les Santenots du Milieu Premier Cru Volnay Santenots Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Bonus Articles, 1999 Red Burgundy in the Bottle (May 2002)
(Volnay “Santenots du Milieu”- Comtes Lafon) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Allen Meadows
Burghound, 2nd Quarter, 2002, Issue #6
(Domaine Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots du Milieu 1er Cru Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Allen Meadows
Burghound (2/9/2002)
(Domaine Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots Du Milieu 1er Cru Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jasper Morris
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy, Dinner at Berry Bros & Rudd: taking a look at some 2005s (5/1/2001)
(Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru, Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Allen Meadows
Burghound, 2nd Quarter, 2001, Issue #2
(Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots du Milieu 1er Cru Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, March/April 2001, IWC Issue #95
(Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots) Subscribe to see review text. | By Allen Meadows
Burghound
(Domaine Comtes Lafon Volnay "Santenots Du Milieu" 1er Cru Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Allen Meadows
Burghound
(Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay "Santenots Du Milieu" 1er Cru Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/23/2008)
(Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-Du-Milieu) Dark cherry red color; deep tart red fruit, raspberry, baked cherry nose; big, tart cherry, solid, but a little extracted; medium-plus finish (close 2nd for WOTF) 92 points | By Bill Nanson
Burgundy-Report (11/1/2005)
(Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots-du Milieu) Deep colour and still very-much cherry-red. The nose starts very tight, slowly adding weight to provide primary cherry fruit with a faint edge of oak toast. A couple of hours after opening there is a very pleasant and truly Volnay impression. Crushing intensity and powerful, velvety, tannins that are 90% covered by the fruit. Good acidity. This is a higher-toned, less obviously sweet rendition of Volnay that, despite it's concentration, is a little less 'burly' than most others, still some oak too. An hour after opening, there's even an element of friendliness! Very good length, though not quite in the vein of the Clos des Ducs. Certainly the wine that will require longest in the cellar, given how young a recent 1990 tasted, I see no reason to consider drinking this before 2015. | By Lyle Fass
Rockss and Fruit (2/22/2005)
(Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots de Milieu) This was some awesome juice but was way too young. Great elegance matched with unreal density and sap. Maybe a touch too much oak on the nose at this stage in it's life but I am sure it will absorbed by the incredible fruit. Just oodles and oodles of cherries along with spice and floral inner mouth aromas. Thrilling to drink. Have to check this out in 10 years. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (3/21/2003)
(Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-Du-Milieu) Reticent nose; rich, tart red fruit, sous bois palate, mouthfilling, good acidity, but a touch hot; medium-plus finish 94 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and View From the Cellar and Burghound and RJonWine.com and Burgundy-Report and Rockss and Fruit. (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.Santenots-Du-Milieu On weinlagen-infoFrance 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 1er Cru Vineyard maps on weinlagen.info |
|
