93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good deep red-ruby color. Black fruits, violet and pepper on the nose, with a suggestion of oak spice. Large-scaled, lush and vinous, with full but juicy flavors of dark berries and violet. This, too, boasts lovely restrained sweetness. A wine of huge phenolic material, with the dusty tannins coating the entire palate. Here's a 2003 that calls for a good decade of aging and may well evolve in bottle for 20 years or more. (Mar/Apr 2006)"
93 points/'Outstanding,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from 45 year old vines that sit just above Champans; picked on the 23rd of August). This beautiful effort is evolving quite slowly with its overtly ripe but not roasted or porty aromas of earth, spice along with a dollop of secondary fruit. There is superb density and power to the impressively vibrant, rich and structured medium weight plus flavors that display outstanding levels of dry extract that both coat the mouth and buffer the still markedly firm tannic spine on the strikingly long mineral-driven finish. The Lafarge Clos des Chênes is always a big wine but the 2003 version is huge though by no means top heavy or lacking in punch. For my taste I would hold this powerful and robust effort for at least another 5 years though as many as 10 may be needed for the majority of the supporting structure to be resolved. Tasted several times over the years with almost identical notes. Drink: Try from 2028+. (Nov 2019)"
93 points (18/20) Clive Coates (The Wines of Burgundy): "Good colour. Lovely nose. Really quite subtle and Volnay-ish. Medium-full body. Fresh. Harmonious and succulent. Long and complex. Very lovely. Fine plus. (Mar 2006)"
93 points Andy Howard, MW (Decanter): "Domaine Lafarge is a top producer within Volnay, and this is one the AC’s best sites. Great colour and aromas full of spices and red fruits. There is plenty of complexity and character here with a lovely softness to the fruit. Sweet, some leafy notes, good acidity, beautifully integrated oak. Elegant, rich and well-balanced, this has lift as well as density and is undoubtedly a fine 1er cru. At peak now but in no hurry to drink up. Drinking Window: 2019-2024. (Nov 2019)"
92 points Fine Wine Review: "Last, the Volnay-Clos des Chênes has deep, smoky, pure black fruit aromas, followed in the mouth by a ripe, smooth texture with some sucrosity and blackberry fruit. This wine is much more the style that one expects of 2003 than the Clos du Château des Ducs, but may show more of the terroir with age. From barrel, it was one of the great wines of the vintage and so may be worth taking a chance on. 2008-2020+? (Issue #112; 2006)"
90-92 points Pierre Rovani (Wine Advocate): "Sporting a medium to dark ruby/purple color, the 2003 Volnay Clos des Chenes (red) explodes from the glass with spices, rose petals, dark cherries, and blueberries. Seemingly the ripest of the Volnays, it expands on the palate with copious quantities of candied black fruits, cassis liqueur, tar, and licorice. Medium-bodied, it displays outstanding depth and an extended finish that exhibits additional waves of fruit as well as loads of ripe tannin. (Apr 2005)"
91 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "Full mid red, showing a little maturity but not yet turning. I don’t think I would spot this as a 2003 on the nose if served blind but the richness of the fruit and its yellow peach qualities are markers. The fruit and the tannin are not quite associated at the moment but nor are they too disjointed, and the fruit returns at the finish. Apparently they started picking on 23rd August – this vintage required creativity, opines Frédéric – and treated the wines as delicately as possible, with just 10 days in vat and no punching down. (Nov 2019)"
93 points/'Outstanding,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from 45 year old vines that sit just above Champans; picked on the 23rd of August). This beautiful effort is evolving quite slowly with its overtly ripe but not roasted or porty aromas of earth, spice along with a dollop of secondary fruit. There is superb density and power to the impressively vibrant, rich and structured medium weight plus flavors that display outstanding levels of dry extract that both coat the mouth and buffer the still markedly firm tannic spine on the strikingly long mineral-driven finish. The Lafarge Clos des Chênes is always a big wine but the 2003 version is huge though by no means top heavy or lacking in punch. For my taste I would hold this powerful and robust effort for at least another 5 years though as many as 10 may be needed for the majority of the supporting structure to be resolved. Tasted several times over the years with almost identical notes. Drink: Try from 2028+. (Nov 2019)"
93 points (18/20) Clive Coates (The Wines of Burgundy): "Good colour. Lovely nose. Really quite subtle and Volnay-ish. Medium-full body. Fresh. Harmonious and succulent. Long and complex. Very lovely. Fine plus. (Mar 2006)"
93 points Andy Howard, MW (Decanter): "Domaine Lafarge is a top producer within Volnay, and this is one the AC’s best sites. Great colour and aromas full of spices and red fruits. There is plenty of complexity and character here with a lovely softness to the fruit. Sweet, some leafy notes, good acidity, beautifully integrated oak. Elegant, rich and well-balanced, this has lift as well as density and is undoubtedly a fine 1er cru. At peak now but in no hurry to drink up. Drinking Window: 2019-2024. (Nov 2019)"
92 points Fine Wine Review: "Last, the Volnay-Clos des Chênes has deep, smoky, pure black fruit aromas, followed in the mouth by a ripe, smooth texture with some sucrosity and blackberry fruit. This wine is much more the style that one expects of 2003 than the Clos du Château des Ducs, but may show more of the terroir with age. From barrel, it was one of the great wines of the vintage and so may be worth taking a chance on. 2008-2020+? (Issue #112; 2006)"
90-92 points Pierre Rovani (Wine Advocate): "Sporting a medium to dark ruby/purple color, the 2003 Volnay Clos des Chenes (red) explodes from the glass with spices, rose petals, dark cherries, and blueberries. Seemingly the ripest of the Volnays, it expands on the palate with copious quantities of candied black fruits, cassis liqueur, tar, and licorice. Medium-bodied, it displays outstanding depth and an extended finish that exhibits additional waves of fruit as well as loads of ripe tannin. (Apr 2005)"
91 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "Full mid red, showing a little maturity but not yet turning. I don’t think I would spot this as a 2003 on the nose if served blind but the richness of the fruit and its yellow peach qualities are markers. The fruit and the tannin are not quite associated at the moment but nor are they too disjointed, and the fruit returns at the finish. Apparently they started picking on 23rd August – this vintage required creativity, opines Frédéric – and treated the wines as delicately as possible, with just 10 days in vat and no punching down. (Nov 2019)"
| Product SKU | 343280 |
| Producer | Lafarge |
| Country | France |
| Region | Burgundy |
| SubRegion | Côtes de Beaune |
| Appellation | Volnay |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Designation | Premier Cru |
| Vintage | 2003 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 13.0% |
| Ships To |
