At a glance

Producer

Domaine Michel Lafarge

Region

Volnay, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Grape variety

Pinot Noir

Wine type

Red

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$120-160

Tasting profile

Red cherry, raspberry, hints of earth and sous-bois, some minerality, balanced herbal notes.

Evolution: Will develop increased complexity with secondary aromas of truffle, forest floor and tobacco emerging after 7+ years.

At peak: Silky tannins, profound layered aromatics, intense minerality, and exceptional length on the finish.

Structure

Acidity

High

Tannins

Medium to Firm

Alcohol

13.5%

Aging potential

20 to 30+ years, given provenance and vintage

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2028 to 2050

Optimal window

2025 to 2053

Current status

Approaching early maturity, still developing

Current condition

Wine shows youthful fruit with tight tannins and fresh acidity, requiring additional cellaring to fully express complexity.

This wine comes from a top Premier Cru vineyard in Volnay, known for elegance and longevity. The 2018 vintage’s warm growing season contributed to ripe fruit balanced by natural acidity and structure. High-quality terroir and exemplary producer make for a superb long-term aging candidate, with drinking window reflecting these attributes.

Food pairing

Ideal with roasted duck, game birds, mushroom risotto, and aged cheeses like Comté or Gruyère.

Serving

Serving temperature

15-17°C / 59-63°F

Decant

Yes (30-60 minutes) — To allow the restrained tannins and complex aromas to open and soften.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 7/10

Minimal use of synthetic chemicals, organic soil management, careful canopy management to reduce water use, hand harvesting.

Although Biodynamic certification is not formalized, Domaine Michel Lafarge employs environmentally sensitive farming including biodiversity encouragement, limited chemical use, and soil health focus. Packaging is standard glass with light-weight bottle employed in recent vintages. Transportation is primarily road freight within Europe, with exports adding to footprint but offset by local sourcing.