December 18, 2023 - I'm so used to Lafarge overdelivering vintage after vintage that this was a bit of a letdown. The texture and primary/secondary characteristics you'd expect. But the secondary aromas were not as appealing as they usually are. I'll put it down to bottle variation.
November 18, 2023 - Lifted, showing great like the rest of the vintage flight. Very good power. 93
November 18, 2023 - Very good to excellent showing, very much in its secondary zone. At once muscular for Volnay but also a touch of elegance. Expressive and concentrated dark red fruits with good complex, savory spices. Tannins still present but mostly resolved. Good breadth and resonance on the finish.
October 27, 2023 - 2002 Beaune and Volnay Premier Crus (San Francisco): Light ruby core with gentle gradation. A really odd combination of ripe fruit and a disconcertingly dominant garlicky/peppery stink that did not go away. Better on the palate, but still all soil and tannin without fruit to support flesh. This had gorgeous fruit and none of these off notes the only other time I tried it 10 years ago, so I have to think that this bottle was defective.
March 24, 2023 - Corked
March 15, 2023 - Oozes the prettiest, purest red berry and cherry fruit imaginable, framed by floral, minty, and earthy notes. The fruit is airy and weightless on the palate, floating over dusty tannins that provide grip. A gorgeous Volnay and nowhere near mature.
January 22, 2023 - Classic Volnay from a great vintage and top producer. What a pleasure to drink and contemplate Burgundian greatness.
June 4, 2022 - Meaty, rusty nose. Dark fruit. Pronounced nose with a but of oak. Palate is complex, powerful and structural. Elegant at the same time. Still long life ahead. Try in 5 years. 93+
August 13, 2020 - Sorry, this was too compact and packed to make any sense now, maybe in 10-15 years or with a well done steak and grassy sauce it can be enjoyed. I wonder if this will come around at any time, but i will be happy to join you if you open one in, let’s say, 2040.
February 5, 2020 - Two visits to Waiheke Island (Easter 2019 and New Year's 2020) (Auckland, NZ): A musky nose of dark florals, black plums, dried herbs, mixed spices and blackberries. On palate, a lovely Volnay, showing some nice development. “Very fleshy”, said Tamra. Dark fruited, rounded and integrated. For me, not at all over-ripe. Simon surprised me referring to a minty note with Tamra agreeing that there was “a green element, with that not meant as a negative, the wine is very generous”. Bright, precise acidity. Fine grained tannins. Silky. Drinking well now.