Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay Les Caillerets 2016

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.

By Neal Martin December 2017