March 31, 2024 - Dark red fruit, a touch of soil, some forest floor, and a hint of stewed dark fruit.
May 29, 2023 - Decanted for one hour, then drunk with pork tenderloin, potato leek gratin, and roasted bell peppers. Fine balance, distinctive Volnay character, just a bit of bricking and fully resolved tannins. From a lesser vintage and not the very best Clos des Chenes I’ve ever had, but an excellent wine nonetheless, a fine reflection of its terroir and the Lafarge style.
May 21, 2022 - Drunk with a venison dish at Glass. An earthy bouquet of dark red fruit, spices, dried and freshly cut herbs and a hint of violet and rose florals. Robust, full and concentrated on palate although the persistent, fresh acids show the vintage character. No off-putting pyrazines however present. Seriously structured and powerful. Well balanced, the tannins now melded and softened. Savoury, spicy, herbal and mineral notes emerged with time in the glass. Very Volnay in character. Now drinking at its best and until 2030+, I would think. Paired well with the venison. 93+.
August 31, 2021 - Casual and Great Domaine Lafarge Tasting (Chez Winefool): Tasted alongside '11 Clos du Château des Ducs, and this is a step up across the board. Rich, dense red and black cherry with herbal accents. Excellent concentrated red cherry is impressive (especially in the context of 2011). Great balance of plump fruit and fresh, buoyant acidity. Round, appealing finish. At peak and should hold for 5-10 years.
August 31, 2021 - Drinking Some Great Lafarge as an Hommage to Becky Wasserman (The Winefool - Chicago IL): Tasted alongside the 2011 Clos du Château des Ducs from the previous flight. This Clos des Chênes was bigger, more harmonious and more complete, even wit a similar flavor and aromatic profile. Very good now. I have typically preferred Clos des Chênes over Clos du Château des Ducs until the most recent few vintages, and these 2011s were consistent with that view.
February 12, 2021 - This seems to be a fresher and more primary bottle compared to the previous one. Aromatics of sweet red berries, raspberries, stems, potpourri and spices. Lively vibrant acidity on the entry, savory medium bodied flavors of red cherry fruits, a mineralic core of slate, stone, clusters and soil. Terminates with a long and delicious finish.
July 18, 2020 - Il a eu besoin de 90 minutes pour s’ouvrir et se révéler civilisé. Un vin racé , séveux, ferrugineux, avec ce côté aérien et complexe du domaine qui me séduit tant. Revoir idéalement dans cinq ans. 92+
April 3, 2020 - An expressive bouquet of red berries, floral, spices whiff from the glass Very open on the palate displaying spicy red and black cherry fruit of medium bodied flavors, very good intensity, fine acidity, seamlessly well integrated core of minerals, savory, herbs, earth, forest floor and orange liquor. Ends with an insanely long and delicious finish. Very complex and drinking very well. This is superb.
November 1, 2019 - Nez un peu anisé, doucement épicé, des mûres. Tanins très soyeux, l’élégance est impressionnante, la complexité magnifique. Plus ouvert que j’aurais cru. C'est jeune, bien sûr, mais déjà délicieux. 92-93 pts
May 8, 2019 - Domaine Michel Lafarge Vertical Tasting (E&R Wine Shop, Portland OR): This offers a green, herbaceous nose, and that note carries onto the palate, which is puckering and lean, showing some green tannin. It still expresses its elegance and pretty side despite the green flavors. The finish is the prettiest part yet, though, showing more fruit (though still green toned). Lovely structure holds all that in place.