2010 Volnay Vendanges Selectionees

The 2010 Volnay Vendanges Selectionnées shows the precision of a finely cut gem. It boasts gorgeous verve, beautifully articulated fruit and fabulous overall balance. There is marvelous tension in the glass as the wine shows off its considerable charms. Clean, chalky finish frames the finish. The Vendanges Selectionnées is a selection of the domaine's best village-level parcels.

(just 7% new oak): Good medium red. Redcurrant, cherry and spices on the nose. A bit more primary and intense than the basic village cuvee , saturating more of the mouth. Finishes longer, with finer tannins and strong spice and soil tones. Usually made from the same parcel of vines, notes Frederic Lafarge.

The 2010 Volnay Vendanges Selectionnees shows the precision of a finely cut gem. It boasts gorgeous verve, beautifully articulated fruit and fabulous overall balance. There is marvelous tension in the glass as the wine shows off its considerable charms. Clean, chalky notes frame the finish. The Vendanges Selectionnees is a selection of the domaine’s best village-level parcels. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. Yields were down 40% in 2010 at Lafarge. According to Frederic Lafarge, a superb September saved a year marked by damp, cold weather during the flowering and later throughout the summer. On the positive side, the low yields per plant allowed the grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness. The 2010s were racked in mid-August 2011 and were aging on their fine lees when I tasted them from barrel in November 2011. As pretty as the 2010s are, today I have a slight preference for the 2009s. That said, the 2010s are terrific, and many of the wines are at or near the top of their respective peer groups. A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet, various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808; Veritas Imports, Beverly Hills, CA; tel. (310) 205-3803; Toepfer Imports LLC, CO; tel. (303) 818-7640