Lafarge Volnay 1er cru Caillerets 2005

93-96 points Fine Wine Review: "The Volnay-Caillerets has cassis aromas and flavors with density, purity, length, and Caillerets finesse, making for a magnificent wine. (Issue #115; 2007)"

94 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from a parcel measuring 7ouvrées, or around .3 ha of 40 year old vines). This is more aromatically complex still with ethereal notes of red and black fruit, floral notes, particularly violets and subtle spice and earth hints where the latter element continues onto the rich, generous and impressively refined flavors that possess superb depth of extract that buffers the firm tannins on the structured, powerful and hugely long finish. A 'wow' wine. Drink: 2015+. (Apr 2008)"

94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep red with ruby highlights. Distinctly purple aromas of blackberry, violet and menthol. Silky on entry, then considerably subtler and suaver than the Chateau des Ducs, with lovely finesse of texture and superb building fruit. Highly concentrated, young and impeccably balanced Volnay, finishing with sweet tannins and a whiplash of fruit. Much more accessible today than the Chateau des Ducs, but this too will reward extended cellaring. (Mar/Apr 2008)"

93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2005 Volnay 'Caillerets' is another outstanding bottle in the making chez Lafarge, as the complex bouquet offers up a blend of red berries, cherries, lovely spice tones, fresh nutmeg, a lovely base of stony soil tones, and a top note of cocoa. On the palate the wine is medium-full, long and complex, with a solid core, fine tang, and great grip and shape on the long, ripely tannic and palate-staining finish. This wine offers the uncanny transparency of the vintage, coupled to brilliantly ripe fruit and great freshness and bounce from the combination of zesty acidity and supple tannins. A very, very impressive bottle of Volnay. 2012-2035+. (Nov/Dec 2006)"

(Note on bottle condition: These older Lafarge wines are from a perfect French cellar, and its relatively high humidity has incurred some mold and cosmetic degradation of the labels. These cellar conditions are identical to the Lafarge cellars themselves, where bottles are not labeled until immediately prior to shipment, as they're blanketed with black mold until that point. The bottles are otherwise pristine with excellent fills and capsules. Images may be furnished upon request. -WHWC, May 2024)