{"title":"Domaine Michel Lafarge","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing the sad passing of Michel in January 2020, his son Frédéric and granddaughter Clothilde maintain his legacy – producing some of the greatest wines in Volnay. There’s nothing modern in the winemaking at Domaine Michel Lafarge, though the meticulous care for their biodynamically farmed vineyards puts them at the forefront of viticultural practices. In the vineyard Vineyard work is usually assisted by the estate’s hens, who eat up any lurking pests. In ’14, Frédéric and Chantal (maiden name Vial) Lafarge decided to buy some Beaujolais vineyards, starting in Fleurie before expanding into Chiroubles and the Côte de Brouilly. The vineyards had all previously been run organically, and that continues under the Lafarge-Vial stewardship – along with biodynamic treatments. In the winery The grapes are destemmed and vinified traditionally; very little new oak is used in the cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"2016-volnay-domaine-michel-lafarge-burgundy","title":"2016 Volnay, Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy","description":"\u003cp\u003eJust the one village Volnay this year; there is no Vendanges Sélectionnées as the crop was too small. W hat was salvaged is in this wine, which means there is a further boost to its quality. It is beautifully ripe, pure and utterly delightful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMichel Lafarge (b. 1928) and his son Frédéric make use of their combined experience to produce some of the greatest wines in Volnay. There is nothing modern in their winemaking, though the meticulous care of their biodynamically farmed vineyards puts the domaine at the forefront of viticultural practices. When they are working on a patch of vines they are usually accompanied by their hens who eat up any lurking pests. The grapes are de-stemmed, vinified traditionally and very little new oak is used in the cellar. Following on from the extraordinary success of the 2015 here, tasting the 2016s with Frédéric proved to be an equally breath-taking experience. In common with a handful of other cellars this year, in the right hands this vintage will be great. It might be easy to misread the wines and consider them obvious and accessible, but the best addresses have a profundity to match their wines’ succulence. Just so here; with such low yields after the frosts, not to mention the fruit lost to mildew, the skill was to achieve balanced sugars and tannins without over-maturity or density. The family’s deep knowledge of their vineyards and traditional, instinctive winemaking was the key. The delicacy and finesse here left us bereft of adjectives, but underpinning all the wines is the inherent vitality of the vineyards and the vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Berry Brothers \u0026 Rudd USA - Prod","offers":[{"title":"1 X 750ML","offer_id":46566724960405,"sku":"20161200750011039937","price":144.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0735\/3807\/6821\/files\/20161039937_Domaine-Michel-Lafarge_Volnay-Domaine-Michel-Lafarge_2016_01.jpg?v=1762268787"},{"product_id":"2017-beaune-rouge-clos-des-aigrots-1er-cru-domaine-michel-lafarge-burgundy","title":"2017 Beaune Rouge, Clos des Aigrots, 1er Cru, Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy","description":"Very fresh nose and a bone-dry finish. More obvious fruit and more acidity than the 1990 Krug served alongside. Admirably long but still developing. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e17+\/20, Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com (November 2021)\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Berry Brothers \u0026 Rudd USA - Prod","offers":[{"title":"1 X 750ML","offer_id":46566727712917,"sku":"20170600750001039865","price":109.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0735\/3807\/6821\/files\/20211365353-ms_c3e18ea2-45c4-4f90-8f6f-3e57b3fc45bb.jpg?v=1762268782"},{"product_id":"2017-volnay-vendanges-selectionnees-domaine-michel-lafarge-burgundy","title":"2017 Volnay, Vendanges Sélectionnées, Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy","description":"This is a selection of the vineyards clustered around the village of Volnay itself. Grands Champs, Pluchots, Gigottes and Échards combine to give a richer nose and more density than the standard bottling. The palate displays greater structure while still retaining elegance and finesse. Drink 2021-2028.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Michel Lafarge (b. 1928) and his son Frédéric make use of their combined experience to produce some of the greatest wines in Volnay. There is nothing modern in their winemaking, though the meticulous care of their biodynamically farmed vineyards puts the domaine at the forefront of viticultural practices. When they are working on a patch of vines they are usually accompanied by their hens who eat up any lurking pests. The grapes are de-stemmed, vinified traditionally and very little new oak is used in the cellar. In 2014, they purchased vineyards in the Beaujolais which are farmed using the same biodynamic practices as employed in the Côte de Beaune.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Frédéric was keen to highlight the solidarity shown between vignerons at the end of April, as they mobilised to put in place measures to prevent a repeat of the frosts of 2016. Burning dampened straw bales at strategic locations, they succeeded in creating cloud cover which saved the vast majority of the vineyards. He also stressed the importance of “fractional harvesting” – waiting until each parcel is fully ripe before picking – and feels that the domaine’s biodynamic practices allow the grapes to achieve even ripening and balance, a real boon in early vintages such as 2017. For those with long memories, 90-year-old Michel compares 2017 to 1947 and 1964.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Berry Brothers \u0026 Rudd USA - Prod","offers":[{"title":"1 X 750ML","offer_id":46566727811221,"sku":"20170600750001040001","price":99.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0735\/3807\/6821\/files\/20131040001_Domaine-Michel-Lafarge_Volnay-Vendanges-Selectionees-Domaine-Michel-Lafarge_2013_01_acba9dab-98c5-4293-9413-a4b45c336911.jpg?v=1762966654"},{"product_id":"2018-beaune-rouge-clos-des-aigrots-1er-cru-domaine-michel-lafarge-burgundy","title":"2018 Beaune Rouge, Clos des Aigrots, 1er Cru, Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy","description":"A strikingly fresh nose combines notes of various red berries with discreet spice and floral whiffs that precede the super-sleek, intense and lilting flavors that exhibit a beguiling sense of underlying tension on the linear and refreshing finish. This will need at least a few years to better flesh out, but it should be lovely in time.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e90-92\/100, Alan Meadows, Burghound (April 2020)\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Berry Brothers \u0026 Rudd USA - Prod","offers":[{"title":"1 X 750ML","offer_id":46566736167061,"sku":"20180600750001039865","price":109.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0735\/3807\/6821\/files\/20211365353-ms_646c5d8d-9ffe-46b0-8cd5-cc3eb8a28e9f.jpg?v=1762966688"},{"product_id":"2019-volnay-clos-des-chenes-1er-cru-domaine-michel-lafarge-burgundy","title":"2019 Volnay, Clos des Chênes, 1er Cru, Domaine Michel Lafarge, Burgundy","description":"","brand":"Berry Brothers \u0026 Rudd USA - Prod","offers":[{"title":"1 X 750ML","offer_id":46566751961237,"sku":"20191200750001039966","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12 X 750ML","offer_id":46566751994005,"sku":"20191200750001039966","price":4740.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0735\/3807\/6821\/files\/20191039966_Domaine-Michel-Lafarge_Volnay-Clos-des-Chenes-1er-Cru-Domaine-Michel-Lafarge_2017_01.jpg?v=1762966761"}],"url":"https:\/\/us.bbr.com\/collections\/producer-domaine-michel-lafarge.oembed","provider":"Berry Bros. \u0026 Rudd USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}