Pre Arrival Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru "Charmes" 2023

92-94 BH

Notes:

This possesses the most floral nose in the entire range in 2023, with its equally elegant nose of the essence of pear, crushed anise and lemon confit. Here too the mouthfeel of the exceptionally rich flavors is generous and opulent to the point of being highly seductive though, and much like the Perrières, they don't lose their precision on the strikingly long finale that isn't quite tightly wound. Even so, this should also reward extended cellaring. Burghound 92-94

The Lafon story begins in 1894, when Jules Lafon married Marie Boch, daughter of a Meursault vigneron, planting the roots of what would become one of Burgundy's most storied estates. Jules later became mayor of Meursault and reintroduced the beloved tradition of la Paulée. Three generations on, Dominique Lafon reclaimed the family vineyards in the 1980s and rebuilt the domaine into a benchmark for the entire appellation. Today, his daughter Léa and nephew Pierre carry the torch, and the wines have never been better.
The Charmes parcel sits within Charmes du Dessus — 1.07 hectares in total, east-facing, on a minimal slope over deep clay-limestone soils with a crumbly, rocky subsoil. Vines range from plantings made in the 1920s to the mid-1990s, a mix of massale and clonal selections. The combination of old wood and mineral-rich earth is precisely what gives this wine its compelling tension.
Farming is certified both organic and biodynamic, with indigenous yeast fermentation and aging for 18 to 22 months in older oak, fined if necessary, and bottled unfiltered. This is as hands-off as it gets in the Côte de Beaune — no new oak influence, no shortcuts, just terroir.
In the glass, Charmes delivers everything the name implies: lush and giving, yet tightly wound. Pear, crisp stone fruit, clear honey, baking spice, wheat toast, and hazelnuts build toward a finish with real grip and chalky extract. It's broad-shouldered but never heavy.
Don't rush it. The balance and dry extract here speak to a wine that drinks beautifully young but rewards patience in the cellar. Open it at eight to ten years and you'll find something truly special — or open it tonight with the right dish.
Food pairing: This wine was made for butter-poached Maine lobster, a classic roast chicken with tarragon cream sauce, or a simple preparation of Dover sole with brown butter and capers. The richness of the wine needs fat at the table — and when it finds it, the pairing is transcendent.

Vins Rare

Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru "Charmes" 2023

Name: Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru "Charmes" 2023
Brand: Vins Rare
SKU: 102481
Price: 395.00 USD
Availability: InStock