2005 Volnay Clos du Chateau des Ducs

Very interesting, dense, compact, already complex nose with lots of ripe fruit but deep structure and fie tannins too. Lovely and fruity and round – easy to like – but masses of fine tannins almost submerged by the great spread of fruit. Long and lovely. (JR)

From their monopole immediately above the village, the Lafarge 2005 Volnay Clos du Chateau des Ducs combines black cherry and cassis with concentrated meat stock, displays flattering creaminess of texture for such a youthful and richly tannic Pinot, and finishes long on a myriad of low-toned bitter-sweet notes including fruit skin, fruit pits, dark chocolate, caramel, marrow, black truffle and wet stone. This concentrated Volnay, preciously eloquent and elegant though it is (and more typical of the vintage than its stable mates) bids fair to reward 10-12 years in the cellar. (After that, as becomes the case with most Pinots, it is risky to speculate and personal preference plays the deciding role. I recently polished off my last bottle of 1989 Clos de Chateau des Ducs, and found it not only stronger than its age or the general character of that vintage would have led me to expect, but thoroughly delightful in the fungal culinary context that was at hand.) The entire Lafarge collection was predictably still in barrel when I visited in February, with even the generic cuvees due for assembly only in March. Speaking of generic bottlings, I don’t know of another domaine that has three of them, and I certainly doubt that there is one with three routinely worthy of attention even by those with the disposable income to afford premier crus. A Becky Wassserman Selection (various importers), Le Serbet, Beaune; fax 011-33-3-80-24-29-70

Deep red. Perfumed aromas of black cherry, dark raspberry and bitter chocolate. Dense, sweet and silky, with noteworthy inner-palate lift and aromatic character, not to mention purity of fruit. The subtly powerful finish features very suave, thoroughly buffered tannins. Lovely.