Les Lurets

This Premier Cru Volnay displays vibrant purple fruit with a touch of wood. There is impressive weight to this and no signs of post-hail stress. The fruit is mouth-filling and the finish excellent. Although this is backward, it is nonetheless very promising.

Production of the Dominique Lafon wines has now moved to large cellars at the Château de Bligny, providing much better working conditions than previously. As a result of the hail, there is unlikely to be any village Volnay or Beaune Épenottes for us to offer. However, Dominique has found an excellent source of Beaune Vignes Franches this year to make up part of the shortfall. This cuvée apart, all the vineyards are managed by the Les Héretiers du Comte Lafon viticultural team, using the same methods. Starting this year, the wines will all be bottled using Diam30 corks.

This is an adorable Volnay from Dominique Lafon, with beautifully plump, dark red fruit swelling across the palate and a very long finish indeed.

In contrast to the village wine from the same parcel, this displays more complexity, with subtle spice notes joining the berry fruit and violet on the nose. The palate is dense and concentrated with some warmth and rich strawberry fruit, all the while retaining the elegance of Volnay. Drink 2022-2029.

After the famine of 2016, this year is something of a feast, at least in the case of the reds. Sadly, the whites, which Dominique praises as having excellent clarity, are in slightly smaller volumes than 2016. The good news is that the full range of red wines has been made, and in good volume too. Dominique is effusive in his praise for the 2017 reds, describing them as appealing, with beautiful balance, a lightness of touch, refined tannins and a floral character with stunning red fruit.