Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots 2012 - Domaine des Comtes Lafon
Burgundy, AOC, Côte de Beaune, Volnay First Growth, Les Santenots, vintage 2012, Domaine des Comtes Lafon
Tasting notes for the Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" 2012 - Comtes Lafon
- EYE: The wine has a deep and intense ruby red color. Its clarity is remarkable, and its brightness is indicative of its quality. The color is consistent, without any signs of oxidation, and it exhibits a beautiful density in the glass.
- NOSE: Aromas of ripe red fruits, such as black cherry and raspberry, mingle with delicate notes of dried flowers, licorice, and sweet spices. Subtle nuances of undergrowth and tobacco can also be discerned, adding an earthy and subtle dimension.
- MOUTH: This Volnay reveals a silky and velvety texture. The flavors of ripe red fruits express themselves with elegance, offering juicy black cherry and jammy raspberry notes. A good acidity brings balance and freshness, while fine and well-integrated tannins provide a harmonious structure. Hints of spices, licorice, and subtle woody notes blend with delicate minerality, adding complexity and depth. The finish is long, persistent, and leaves a pleasant sensation in the mouth.
In short: The Volnay 1er Cru "Les Santenots" 2012 from the famous Domaine des Comtes Lafon is a wine of great finesse and elegance. Its complex nose and velvety palate make for a refined tasting experience. This wine pairs perfectly with many roasted meat dishes such as lamb or duck, as well as soft cheese. It can also be experienced on its own if you want to fully appreciate its complexity. As for its aging potential, this Volnay 1er Cru can be cellared for another 5 to 10 years to allow further evolution and the development of additional aromatic nuances.
Other appellations from this estate: Meursault Village, Meursault Clos de la Barre, Meursault Désirée, Meursault Charmes, Meursault Goutte d'Or, Meursault Porusots, Meursault Bouchères, Meursault Genevrières, Meursault Perrières, Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu, Volnay Champans, Volnay Clos des Chênes, Monthélie-les-Duresses, Monthélie Blanc, Montrachet...
Data sheet
- Vintage
- 2012
- Format
- 75 cl
- Color
- Red Wine
- Grape Variety
- Pinot Noir
- Appellation
- Volnay
- Region
- Bourgogne, Côte de Beaune
- Producer
- Domaine des Comtes Lafon
- Serving T°
- 15°C
- Classification
- 1er Cru
- Climat
- Les Santenots

Biodynamics, made in Meursault
Jules Joseph Barthelemy Lafon, a native of Tarn-et-Garonne, is the creator of the Domaine des Comtes Lafon. Born in 1864, his job as controller in the administration led him to settle in Dijon in 1887. He married in 1894 Marie Boch, daughter of a merchant-owner of Meursault. Involved in local life, Jules Lafon, then Mayor of Meursault, restored in 1923 the end of harvest meal, the "Paulée de Meursault" (with the help of Jacques Prieur), still being practiced each year. He abandoned his professional duties in 1931 to devote himself to the family estate, which he extended through the purchase of several Premiers Crus: Genevrières, Perrières, Charmes and a parcel of Grand Cru: the famous Montrachet.
At his death, the estate is partly given in sharecropping, and Henry, after the untimely death of his brother Pierre, undertook to sell the vines. His nephew René opposed himself to this decision, and became head of the estate in 1956. He undertook the restoration of the vineyards, and made important replanting. In 1961, for the first time, the entire harvest was bottled. Dominique Lafon, current domain manager (and owner of the Domaine Dominique Lafon), succeeded his father in 1984, and began in 1987 to break the sharecropping contracts. Since 1993, all the vines are directly operated by the Domaine des Comtes Lafon.
The area has 16.30 hectares of vines, planted 1/3 Pinot Noir, 2/3 Chardonnay, spread over 4 towns and producing 15 appellations. The production method has been biodynamic since the 1998 vintage, and the estate got the Organic Agriculture certification that year. The production quality is ensured upstream in the vines, whose average age is high, worked without fertilizer and through manual harvesting and aging of wines for many months before bottling.
Browse our selection of wines from the Domaine des Comtes Lafon.