Saint Aubin

From 50 year old vines on the lower slopes.  Dense purple, the nose is ripe and plummy. Very good deep volume of fruit yet also with crunchy acidity. A bracing, invigorating, pinot from St Aubin. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

Again, this is an attractive pale primrose colour. Its rich, beguiling nose is redolent of pears and plums. The weight is there: it’s soft, rounded and mouthfilling, very complete, very long and with enough tension. This is completed by a superb finish with a little lively lemony note.

Olivier Lamy went through his red vineyards three times before the 2014 harvest to remove any damaged berries, which especially posed a risk on the clay soils. The white crop, meanwhile, was superb, with healthy grapes and a respectable yield; picking began on 12th September. Olivier notes excellent definition between the different terroirs, which he says is typical of a cooler year. He plans to give the whites a slightly longer élevage than usual, while using minimal new oak, about 10 percent for the Premiers Crus.

The perfectionist Olivier first picked the younger vines, then came back for the older ones. The nose has a certain opulence while the palate delivers a long, lean finish. The wine appears to want to deliver peaches but finishes with apples. Drink 2019-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Olivier Lamy compares the 2015 reds as being similar to ‘05 with less stress, or ‘09 with more energy. As they offered good colour and tannin, he was able to use 60 to 80 percent whole bunches. Picking began on 25th August, starting with whites to keep their acidity. Overall, however, the red crop is down 50 percent and the whites by 20 to 25 percent thanks to coulure and millerandage after the flowering. Olivier has used no new wood in 2015 and no sulphur for the vinification – some will be added before bottling. Olivier notes that the whites have been tasting fresher and fresher during their time in barrel.

Fine and bright, the wine is pale in colour. This has beautiful nervous tension, with real elegance to the fruit, and a fabulous finish. Sheer class. The higher elevation of this vineyard has played its part. First-rate wine. Drink 2020-2026.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Olivier Lamy compares the 2015 reds as being similar to ‘05 with less stress, or ‘09 with more energy. As they offered good colour and tannin, he was able to use 60 to 80 percent whole bunches. Picking began on 25th August, starting with whites to keep their acidity. Overall, however, the red crop is down 50 percent and the whites by 20 to 25 percent thanks to coulure and millerandage after the flowering. Olivier has used no new wood in 2015 and no sulphur for the vinification – some will be added before bottling. Olivier notes that the whites have been tasting fresher and fresher during their time in barrel.

A pale primrose colour, this has a softer, gentler nose, huge weight to it nonetheless. This sunny site delivers an agreeable succulence, but this accessible character can be deceptive. Lamy’s Chatenière tends to age very well. Drink 2019-2025.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Olivier Lamy compares the 2015 reds as being similar to ‘05 with less stress, or ‘09 with more energy. As they offered good colour and tannin, he was able to use 60 to 80 percent whole bunches. Picking began on 25th August, starting with whites to keep their acidity. Overall, however, the red crop is down 50 percent and the whites by 20 to 25 percent thanks to coulure and millerandage after the flowering. Olivier has used no new wood in 2015 and no sulphur for the vinification – some will be added before bottling. Olivier notes that the whites have been tasting fresher and fresher during their time in barrel.

This vineyard is on a south-facing slope overlooking the winery. Pale fresh lemon colour, pure light and lively fruit on the nose, even more concentrated white fruit on the palate with excellent weight and good balancing acidity. Persistent. Some citrus fruit at the finish. 
Jasper Morris, MW - Wine Buyer

This is a blend of Olivier’s various village parcels. The volume is way down; only five barrels instead of 20, and he declassified a lot to Bourgogne Blanc. This is very fresh, with plenty of racy acidity, very much like the 2014, but without some of the flesh. Drink 2019-2022.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

There have been Lamys growing vines in St Aubin since 1640 – today the domaine is run by Olivier Lamy in succession to his father Hubert. Olivier ceased supplying négociants in 1997, grubbing up and selling off peripheral vines, keeping only the best and oldest sites. He has been experimenting with different planting densities in a quest to capture an even greater expression of terroir. Every single one of Olivier Lamy’s vineyards in St Aubin was completely frosted; only Santenay escaped. In a strange way, this was a benefit because, when the vines began to re-flower, they did so all at the same time and there was an homogeneity of growth and maturity. Furthermore, without two differently maturing sets of grapes to contend with, the crop made up the two-week delay imposed by the frost and Olivier was able to start harvesting in Santenay on 15th September, finishing his Bourgogne Blanc from his highest vineyards in St Aubin 10 days later. Olivier suggests the style is like a lighter version of 2014. Overall his production is down about one third.

This is from 55-year-old vines. Olivier likes to do 50 percent whole-bunch fermentation, allowing him to layer whole bunches and de-stemmed berries alternately (millefeuille). This has a lovely, accessible, juicy, raspberry-sundae fruit and the tannins are light but supportive. Drink 2021-2024.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

There have been Lamys growing vines in St Aubin since 1640 – today the domaine is run by Olivier Lamy in succession to his father Hubert. Olivier ceased supplying négociants in 1997, grubbing up and selling off peripheral vines, keeping only the best and oldest sites. He has been experimenting with different planting densities in a quest to capture an even greater expression of terroir. Every single one of Olivier Lamy’s vineyards in St Aubin was completely frosted; only Santenay escaped. In a strange way, this was a benefit because, when the vines began to re-flower, they did so all at the same time and there was an homogeneity of growth and maturity. Furthermore, without two differently maturing sets of grapes to contend with, the crop made up the two-week delay imposed by the frost and Olivier was able to start harvesting in Santenay on 15th September, finishing his Bourgogne Blanc from his highest vineyards in St Aubin 10 days later. Olivier suggests the style is like a lighter version of 2014. Overall his production is down about one third.

Only a small cuve but an excellent one. There is a touch more colour here than the Frionnes, lively aromatics including some fresh pear notes alongside the apple, a lovely mid palate and a fine long finish.
Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Director

Olivier Lamy decided on an unusually early start of 14th September in 2010, having closely monitored the ripeness of his grapes. He has also significantly reduced the amount of new oak this year, preferring to use one year old barrels from the plentiful 2009 vintage. He now has a substantial barrel park of 600 litre demi-muids to draw from. Olivier is not a fan of lees stirring: his style is for pure, precise concentrated wines.