2016 Michel Lafarge, Volnay 1er Cru, Les Caillerets 6x75cl

JancisRobinson.com – 17+

Red soils over calcaire for minerality. Lighter nose than the Mitans. Very ethereal on the nose and almost easy to overlook on the palate. Bit of a dark horse. Very ‘mineral’ on the finish. [06/11/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2040

Robert Parker – 92-94

“The 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets lost half its crop due to frost damage, something that even Michel Lafarge himself could not remember over decades of winemaking. It has a drop dead gorgeous bouquet with shimmering red berry fruit, so effervescent with hints of blood orange and freshly sliced tangerines. Underneath all that is wonderful mineralité. The palate is very well balanced with a pitch perfect opening, tensile from the very start with layers of tart red fruit, just a subtle savory note surfacing toward the finish. Half as much but almost as good as the brilliant 2015 Caillerets.” [29/12/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040

Vinous – 91-93

Medium red. Complex, inviting aromas and flavors of red berries, spices and pungent minerals, with strong elements of earth and underbrush. Densely packed, supple and serious, with a subtle hint of sucrosité hinting at the sweetness to come with age. The wine’s serious but suave tannins spread out to saturate the palate. The longest of these 2016s to this point. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/01/2018]