Lafarge's Clos des Chênes is easily one of the top examples of Volnay in 2011.
And this is no small compliment. I continue to be amazed by how successful Volnay was in 2011. The wines have a depth and fineness that makes them stand out in a big way.
The Clos des Chênes is Lafarge's top site. The level of refinement, along with its delicately balanced and lengthy finish, make it exceptional. I love Lafarge's 2011 Chênes for how powerfully and clearly it expresses the site.
When this parcel came across my desk, I jumped on the chance to re-up on the wine.
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I've always had a deep fondness for Lafarge's wines, but over the past couple of years I've grown obsessed with them. There's a depth and soulfulness to the wines that's special. Taste a Lafarge with a few decades of age and it's impossible not to be convinced of how important and simply great they are.
Volnay is one of the sweet spots of the 2011 vintage. The top wines possess a deep, earthy minerality, velvety muscle, and tensile elegance. Add it all up and it's simply a gorgeous cast of wines.
Lafarge is known for producing beautiful clarity matched with a sturdy structure. The 2011 Clos des Chênes is a textbook example of this. It's a bottle that will sing after a decade or two in the cellar. The precision, concentration and balance make the ageability factor obvious.
There's no getting around the fact that Lafarge's fame has grown considerably in recent years. He's always enjoyed a fair amount of status and the wines have never been plentiful, but these days it's brutal. Offering Chênes is a luxury.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits