2009 Domaine des Comtés Lafon Volnay Santenots du Milieu 1er Cru

I was thrilled to find Lafon's 2009 Volnay Santenots on the list. One of my frustrations is that I have the opportunity to taste so many spectacular wines all over the world, but Marzia only tastes a small fraction of those wines. As soon as I saw the Lafon, I sensed it would be the prefect wine for this menu. The 2009 Santenots has always been dazzling. It was great from barrel, equally thrilling from bottle, and superb at this lunch. The French Laundry's menu isn't as easy to pair with wine as one might think. A Napa Valley Cabernet would almost certainly overpower many, if not most, of these subtle dishes, but red Burgundy from a ripe generous vintage is a great match. The 2009 Santenots was captivating from the first taste. Sensual, layered and impeccably balanced, it was flat-out stunning on its own and with the food.

Lafon's 2009 Volnay Santenots boasts extraordinary polish and sheer class. Crushed flowers, licorice, red berries and minerals are all woven together in a fabric of notable refinement. The Santenots is quite rich, but also refined as it literally floats on the palate. This is a dazzling showing from Dominique Lafon.

Lafon’s 2009 Volnay Santenots boasts extraordinary polish and sheer class. Crushed flowers, licorice, red berries and minerals are all woven together in a fabric of notable refinement. The Santenots is quite rich, but also refined as it literally floats on the palate. This is a dazzling showing from Dominique Lafon. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Importers: Classic Wine Imports, Norwood, MA, tel. (781) 352 1100; Beaune Imports, Berkeley, CA, tel. (510) 559 1040; A Daniel Johnnes Selection imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY, tel. (516) 677 9300