Volnay Santenots du Milieu, Domaine des Comtes Lafon 2018

**Note: from 40+ year old vines planted in shallow, high clay content soil sitting on a bed of solid rock**
A markedly riper yet agreeably fresh and spicy nose somewhat grudgingly reveals its aromas of cool and pure black currant and dark cherry that are trimmed in pretty floral nuances. The middle weight flavors exhibit excellent energy and concentration while retaining a lovely sense of refinement on the powerful, focused and impressively long and slightly warm finish that is shaped by firm but fine tannins. This excellent effort should age gracefully for years.

Lafon's finest red this year is, as usual, the 2018 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots-du-Milieu, a wine that combines the finesse of the Clos des Chênes with the power and depth of the Champans. Exhibiting a complex bouquet of cherries, smoky wild berries, rich soil tones, violets and dark chocolate, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and concentrated, with refined tannins and a sense of controlled power.