| Region of production: | Côte de Beaune |
| Winery Location: | Volnay |
| Year Established: | early 19th century |
Vineyard Holdings
11.68 ha
- Volnay Clos du Château des Ducs Premier Cru: a 0.57-ha monopole of Pinot Noir; vines are 40 years old
- Volnay Clos des Chênes Premier Cru: 0.9 ha Pinot Noir; vines are 50 years old
- Volnay Caillerets Premier Cru: 0.28 ha Pinot Noir; vines are 50 years old
- Volnay Mitans Premier Cru: 0.39 ha Pinot Noir; vines are 50 years old
- Pommard Pézerolles Premier Cru: 0.14 ha Pinot Noir; vines are 60 years old
- Beaune Aigrots Premier Cru: 0.23 ha of 30-year-old Chardonnay vines; 0.66 ha of 40-year-old Pinot Noir vines
Top Wines Produced
- Volnay Clos du Château des Ducs Premier Cru
- Volnay Clos des Chênes Premier Cru
- Volnay Caillerets Premier Cru
- Volnay Mitans Premier Cru
- Volnay Premier Cru: blended from small holdings in various premiers crus including Chanlins
- Volnay Vendanges Selectionées: a selection of various old-vine, village parcels
Inaugural Vintages
- domaine-bottling began in 1934
Average Total Production
- 48,000 bottles
Summary
This small jewel of a family domaine is run by father and son Michel and Frédéric Lafarge. Michel took over in 1960, and his conservative nature made him skeptical of the then-trendy use of synthetic fertilizers and clonal selections for replanting. His preference was to farm his plots organically and make new plantings from a sélection massale of his old vines. Frédéric joined his father in the mid-1980s and began making biodynamic trials in the vineyards; they completed a full conversion to biodynamics in 2000. Frédéric and Michel continue to work together closely to maintain and improve the very high standards and quality of the domaine.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Frédéric Lafarge looks to harvest at full phenolic maturity but is very wary of harvesting overripe fruit as he seeks freshness and vitality in his wines. The grapes are completely de-stemmed prior to a cool start to fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The use of pumps is generally avoided, and pigeage occurs once or twice a day during the two weeks of maceration. The wines are barrel-aged in minimal new oak (none for the regional and village level wines, and up to 15% new for the premier crus) for about 18 months prior to bottling without filtration. Frédéric strives to emphasize the signature of his terroirs through his winemaking choices, and the differences in his wines from Beaune, Pommard and Volnay are dramatic.
Producer Website: Michel Lafarge