2015 Domaine des Comtés Lafon Monthélie Les Duresses 1er Cru
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Tasting notes
Medium red with a faint hint of amber at the rim. Aromas of redcurrant, mint and menthol. Juicy, fresh flavors of red berries and spices display a lovely sugar/acid balance, giving this attractive wine considerable early appeal. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and very good length. The crop here was a full 45 hectoliters per hectare, vs. just 25 to 30 for Lafon's Volnays.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Monthélie Les Duresses has a lovely, frisky raspberry coulis and strawberry-scented bouquet with good intensity. The palate is fleshy and generous with a keen line of acidity, harmonious with a pleasant touch of piquancy on the finish.
Cask sample. Rich and grainy without great depth but angular and very à la mode. Sour finish. Quite tart. (JR)
(this "big crop [45 hectoliters per hectare] in a cold spot" was picked at a moderate 12.5% potential alcohol): Bright, dark red. Very pure aromas of cherry and raspberry complemented by a toasty nuance and hints of mocha and flowers. Silky and enticingly sweet, displaying surprising sappy energy for the year. Beefier and sweeter than the 2014 version, and a touch more tannic, but a wonderfully fresh Monthélie with more red fruits than black. A touch of salinity contributes to the impression of restraint. A delightful midweight with energy and length. Lafon vinifed this wine with 5% whole clusters, noting that he works his Monthélie in a lighter style, as this appellation is "generally not intended for longer aging."