Volnay Rarity
2011 Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru
"A really lovely combination of power and finesse" -Burghound
Our love of Lafarge is no secret, but in many ways Lafarge's 1er Cru is. It's just that rare.
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It's a bottle that I'm always on the hunt for and almost never find. Today is the rare exception. Needless to say, these are the only bottles in the U.S.
Sure, there are sexier bottles in the Lafarge line-up, say his Clos des Chênes, but I have a particular fondness for this bottling. And I'm far from alone here. The few people that I know who have tasted it all seem to have a similar soft spot for this bottling.
For me, it epitomizes the Lafarge style. It's a textbook example of the thrilling combination of pinpoint minerality, fruit and utter purity that are Lafarge's signatures. It delivers the structured intensity and delicacy that Lafarge so uniquely captures. Above all, like all Lafarge, this isn't the least bit showy. It's subtle, structured to age beautifully.
2011 is a great vintage to check out the 1er Cru. Volnay was very successful in 2011 and even in this context every Lafarge we've tasted from the vintage has blown us away.
Everything is presented with a heartbreaking precision and clarity. Burghound's note really captures this when he writes, "There is a cool, intense and focused quality to the gorgeously mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors."
Lafarge's 1er Cru is sourced from Pitures, a vineyard that's known for a stern minerality. Lafarge takes this characteristic and (especially in 2011) adds an explosive burst of earth, spice, game and red fruits.
For Lafarge fans, for purists, this is not to be missed. It's easy to go on and on about this bottle, but with the size of Lafarge's fan club and the tiny quantities available of this rare wine, it's best to keep this brief. Give us you ideal order and we'll try our best.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits