Lafarge Volnay 1er cru Clos du Château des Ducs 2011

93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "As is the case with several of the 2011s in the Lafarge cellars this year, the Clos du Château des Ducs is a very red fruity rendition of this superb vineyard. The deep and classy nose offers up a reserved and classy mélange of cherries, blood orange, strawberries, raw cocoa, a touch of nutskin, a complex base of soil tones and a complex topnote of fresh herbs primarily redolent of thyme. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure, with a fine core of red fruit, a very soil-driven personality, suave tannins and great length and grip on the vibrant and elegant finish. This will be a dynamite vintage of Clos du Château des Ducs. Drink: 2022-2060. (Nov/Dec 2012)"

90-93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Bright medium red. Pure but reticent aromas of redcurrant and dried flowers. Densely packed and broad but youthfully closed and tight today, showing little in the way of easy sweetness. Plenty of dimension here but not yet filled in. Finishes long and fine. All in reserve today. (Jan/Feb 2013)"

92 points/'Sweet spot/Outstanding,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from 50+ year old vines; a monopole of the domaine). A riper and more deeply pitched nose features terrific complexity with its moderately earthy aromas of red currant, dark cherry, plum and cassis hints. There is excellent vibrancy and outstanding detail to the generously textured, stony and complex middle weight flavors that finish in a mouth coating, persistent and delicately balanced finale. This is really quite good and worth a look. Drink: 2021+. (Apr 2014)"

(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)