An absolutely beautiful range - 2011 Lafarge Volnay Vendanges Selectionnees

Posted by Ian McFadden

I continue to be amazed by how successful Volnay was in 2011.

It may very likely be the star of the vintage. The wines have a depth and a fineness that makes them stand out in a big way.

As they always do, Lafarge's 2011 Volnays demand to be counted among the best of the vintage.

Lafarge is one of those rare producers whose entire range I love, from Aligoté to Clos des Chenes. With that said, I do have a particular affection for their Vendanges Sélectionnées. I’ve had bottles of this with fifteen years of age that have been heartbreakingly good. When I factor in price and ageability, the VS seems like one of the slept on bottles of Lafarge’s stable.

In some ways, this is a good thing. VS is never around in quantity. It’s taken me months to cobble together small parcels for this offering. I can only imagine how ugly it would get if VS got on people’s radars.

Regardless, Lafarge’s VS is a bottle worth getting to know well, especially in 2011. In this vintage, the VS has a combination of mineral-laden depth and tension-filled, ultra-precise structure. Burghound's note captures the "big picture" really well: "An excellent villages that offers fine aging potential yet it could actually be enjoyed now too."

I'm going to wrap this up. It's a beautiful Saturday and the high level that Lafarge has worked at for decades speaks for itself. I should just say that there's not much of this wine to go around. Please give us your ideal order and we'll try our best.

To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Ian McFadden


Director, Fine and Rare Wine

Crush Wine & Spirits