Domaine des Comtes Lafon Current Releases

Domaine Comtes Lafon Current Releases

 

Monthelie Blanc

  • A tiny 0.15 hectare parcel, the Monthelie Blanc was planted in 1996 just above the Monthelie-les-Duresses. Due to the severe (28%) slope, the vineyard is worked by horse and by hand. At first, the wine was only consumed at the domaine during harvest but it is now released in tiny quantities.


Meursault

  • A blend of three parcels:

    • En La Barre

      • 0.61 hectares planted in 1953 and 1956 next to Clos de la Barre

      • Produces richer wines

    • En Luraule

      • 0.45 hectares planted in 1975, purchased by the domaine in 1996

      • Located next to Goutte d'Or

      • Produces very little wine but of extreme minerality and tension

      • Biodynamic farming has done wonders in rehabilitating the vineyard health

    • Les Crotots

      • 0.17 hectares acquired in 2004, started to go into the Meursault cuvée in 2009 upon the expiration of its preexisting lease to another winemaker


Meursault "Clos de la Barre"

  • 2.12 hectares owned entirely by the domaine, encircled by a wall

  • Shallow clay soil above hard limestone

  • Planting dates - 1950 (0.80 ha), 1975 (0.80 ha), 1999 & 2004 (0.50 ha)

  • The terroir produces rich, mineral wines, with pronounced citrus aromas and marked acidity.

 

Meursault Clos de la Baronne

  • The '12 was the first vintage that the Clos de la Baronne had been bottled as a single parcel. The bottling is sourced from the 2.7ha Clos de la Baronne, a monopole of on average 40-year-old vines.

 

Meursault “Désirée”

  • 0.45 hectares in the lieu-dit of “les Petures”

  • The name “Désirée” was used at the end of the 19th century; this precedent allows Lafon to use it, as he finds “Désirée” to be more attractive than “Petures”.

  • The vines are planted on thin red clay that is quite suited to Pinot, so most of the lieu-dit is planted as such and is bottled as Volnay-Santenots

  • Due to the unusual terroir for Chardonnay, this wine is always rich, somewhat exotic, and seductive in its youth.

 

Meursault 1er Cru Goutte d'Or

  • 0.39 hectares replanted in 1991

  • Clay-rich soil on pebbly limestone sub-soil

  • Vigorous terroir that must be well-managed

  • Produces very powerful wines with ripe aromas and explosive minerality

 

Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

  • 1.71 hectares in Charmes du Dessus (the top - and best part - of the vineyard)

  • 3 planting dates:

    • 1946 by Auguste Morey (Pierre's father)

    • 1963 by Pierre Morey

    • 1996 by Dominique Lafon

  • Relatively deep clay-limestone soil, the rocks are quite crumbly, even at great depth

  • Produces powerful but not heavy wines


Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières

  • 0.55 hectares in Genevrières du Dessus (the top - and best part - of the vineyard)

  • 2 planting dates:

    • 1946 (2/3 of the vines)

    • 1993 (1/3 of the vines)

  • The parcel is located right next to Lafon's parcel of Perrières

  • The soil is shallow and very light, producing a wine of incredible finesse

 

Meursault 1er Cru Porusots

  • The 1er Cru Porusots is an east-facing vineyard with deep clay soils. The site produces lavish, layered and deeply structured wines.

 

Meursault 1er Cru Perrières

  • 0.91 hectares in 2 parcels:

    • Les Perrières Dessous

      • 0.77 ha towards the bottom of Perrières

      • Planted in 1955 (87%) and 1983 (13%)

    • Les Perrières Dessous “Perrières Ginette”

      • 0.14 ha towards the bottom of Perrières

      • Acquired in 2004

  • The soil is quite fine and is white from the abundance of limestone and marl on a sub-soil of flaked limestone

  • This is always a powerful wine, marked with Perrière's signature potent minerality

 

Montrachet Grand Cru

  • 0.32 hectares at the extreme southern end of the vineyard, just south of Romanée-Conti's plots

  • 80% planted in 1953, 20% in 1972

  • Purchased by Comte Jules Lafon in 1918, this small piece of Montrachet is the crown jewel of the estate, producing tiny amounts of a wine of astounding richness, balance, and depth.

 

Monthelie Rouge 1er Cru "Les Duresses"

  • 1.06 hectares on the hill just behind the village

  • 1/3 planted in 1975, 2/3 planted in 1986 and 1996

  • The soil is red and stony at the bottom of the hill and turns whiter at higher elevations

 

Volnay-Clos des Chenes

  • 0.38 hectares planted in 1973 towards the bottom of the Clos, overlooking Caillerets

  • Clay-rich soil of medium depth on top of soft limestone sub-soil.

 

Volnay-Champans

  • 0.52 hectares, 2/3 planted in 1922 (the oldest vines of the domaine, from which they often harvest cuttings) and 1/3 planted in 1989

  • Light soils with small stones, on crushed limestone

  • Produces relatively dense wines that are less tannic than Santenots

 

Volnay-Santenots du Milieu

  • 3.78 hectares in multiple parcels purchased by Jules Lafon, Dominique's great grandfather and the founder of the domaine

  • Plantings in 1944, 1962, 1965, 1978, 1996, and 2002

  • The soils are very rich in clay, yet shallow, on hard limestone bedrock.

  • The wines are dark in color, rich, and deep, with noticeable tannins but always elegant.