Lafarge Volnay 1er cru Clos du Château des Ducs 2008

93 points/'Outstanding,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from 50+ year old vines; a monopole of the domaine). A nose of pure pinot, violets and dissolved mineral notes complement to perfection the detailed and stone-driven medium-bodied flavors that possess fine volume and a gorgeously balanced finish. The harmony here is Zen-like. Drink: 2018+. (May 2011)"

93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2008 Clos du Château des Ducs is another really poised, deep and aromatically stunning wine, as it offers up a beautiful blend of cherries, strawberries, woodsmoke, a touch of orange zest, roses and again, breathtaking minerality. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and very, very long, with a fine core of fruit, impeccable focus and balance and a glorious synthesis of sappy red fruit and insistent minerality on the suavely tannic and very long finish. A great wine in the making, I would do everything in my power to give this wine at least a full decade of bottle age before really starting to think about drinking it. Not that it will not be accessible earlier, but there are some serious aromatic and flavor fireworks to come here when the wine reaches its peak! 2018-2050. (Nov/Dec 2009)"

92-93 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "The Lafarge monopole 2008 Volnay Clos Du Chateau Des Ducs leads with striking buddleia perfume, kirsch, and aromatic intimations of oceanic salinity and crustacean savor. Juicy and vibrant; elegant, tenderly-fruited and polished; this is one of those wines that manages to enervate and caress at the same time, and in which bright ripe fruit is allied to a remarkable depth of elements than can only be explicated in animal and mineral terms. Overt suggestions of chalk and cherry pit lend the buoyant finish a measure of austerity, but it is so saliva-inducing and refreshing that severity is not a risk. It should last for at least 15 years. (Jun 2010)"

92 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good medium red. Complex but reticent aromas of red fruits and soil. A rich, velvety style of 2008, youthfully closed today but already displaying impressive volume. This gained in clarity and freshness as it opened in the mouth, showing excellent medicinal reserve to its red and darker berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with impressive length. I'd give this seven years in the cellar. (Mar/Apr 2011)"

92 points Fine Wine Review: "The Volnay-Clos du Château des Ducs features mineral red and dark fruits with good acid and tannin to support it. Although this wine develops relatively fast in Lafarge’s lineup, I’d expect 8-10+ years until this wine reaches its plateau. (Issue #133; 2011)"

(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)