Domaine des Comtes Lafon - Monthelie Rouge Les Duresses 2020

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Monthélie wine is produced in the commune of Monthelie in Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. The Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) Monthélie may be used for red and white wine with respectively Pinot noir and Chardonnay as the main grape variety. The production consists of more than 85% red wine, and less than 15% white wine. There are no Grand Cru vineyards within Monthelie.

In 2008, there was 119.34 hectares (294.9 acres) of vineyard surface in production for Monthélie wine at village and Premier Cru level, and 4,745 hectoliter of wine was produced, of which 4,148 hectoliter red wine and 597 hectoliter white wine. Some 107.90 hectares (266.6 acres) of this area was used for the red wines in 2007. The total amount produced corresponds to a little over 600,000 bottles, of which around 550,000 bottles of red wine and around 80,000 bottles of white wine.

For white wines, the AOC regulations allow both Chardonnay and Pinot blanc to be used, but most wines are 100% Chardonnay. The AOC regulations also allow up to 15 per cent total of Chardonnay, Pinot blanc and Pinot gris as accessory grapes in the red wines, but this not very often practiced. The allowed base yield is 40 hectoliter per hectare of red wine and 45 hectoliter per hectare for white wine. The grapes must reach a maturity of at least 10.5 per cent potential alcohol for village-level red wine, 11.0 per cent for village-level white wine and Premier Cru red wine, and 11.5 per cent for Premier Cru white wine.

1.06 hectares on the hill just behind the village / 1/3 planted in 1975, 2/3 planted in 1986 and 1996 / The soil is red and stony at the bottom of the hill and turns whiter at higher elevations

Domaine des Comtes Lafon Description

Domaine des Comtes Lafon has been in the Lafon family since 1865. Dominique Lafon took over the domaine in 1985. It is comprised of approximately 14 hectares situated in the communes of Volnay, Monthélie, Chassagne-Montrachet, and of course, Meursault, where the domaine and its monopole vineyard Clos de la Barre are located.

All the vineyards are cultivated biodynamically and they proudly own every Premier Cru in Meursault. Dominique retired at the end of 2021, handing over the reigns to his daughter, Léa and nephew, Pierre, who as part of the fifth generation of winemakers in the Lafon family, will continue this domaine’s superstar reputation not only in Burgundy but throughout the world.

“There are few growers anywhere in the world more committed to improving his vineyards with the aim of making ever better wine than Dominique Lafon. He tirelessly questions his and others’ methods, always looking to improve.” — DANIEL JOHNNES

Decanter: 93 Points

"A delicious result, with a ripe, nuanced blackberry and bramble fruit character. The texture of the wine has an exuberant, youthful freshness and vivacity. Not for long ageing, but very enjoyable on the fruit alone. Lafon owns more than a hectare in the east-facing Monthélie premier cru of Les Duresses. It is not among his most high-profile bottlings, but perhaps he feels free to experiment a bit because of this. Unlike most reds, a good proportion of the grapes are fermented as whole clusters and the wine sees no sulphur before bottling."-Charles Curtis, MW