Dominique Lafon : Beaune 1er cru "Vignes Franches" 2015

A Pinot Noir with Dark Fruit and Savory Touch

Burgundy winemaker Dominique Lafon created his eponymous label in 2008, paving a path separate from his family's label (Domaine des Comtes Lafon). His aim was to experiment with the vines of Beaune and other appellations, and eventually to produce a new style. Lafon now cultivates around 4.5 hectares of vines in the appellations of Meursault, Volnay, Puligny-Montrachet and Beaune. The wines are vinified, aged and bottled at Chateau de Bligny. Dominique Lafon wines reveal a great tension in the mouth, paired with an elegant minerality, which results from the high altitudes at which the vines are grown. The Beaune Premier Cru "Vignes Franches" 2015 from Domaine Lafon is a 100% Pinot Noir wine made from fruit from the Beaune Premier Cru vineyard "Vignes Franches," whose name ("free vines") refers to the fact that historically Beaune landowners did not have to pay tax on their land. The vines are planted in clay soils scattered with small pebbles, making for excellent drainage. The wines were vinified with a very light extraction to showcase the perfect health and natural beauty of the grapes.

The Beaune Premier Cru "Vignes Franches" 2015 from Domaine Lafon reveals a gorgeous purplish red color in the glass. On the bouquet, this wine reveals a clear and generous bouquet of dark red and black fruits (redcurrants, cherries and blackberries), accented by violet petals, earthy notes of undergrowth and herbaceous fragrances. On the palate, this wine shows off a fine structure with smooth tannins and a nice long finish, marked by a savory character. The perfect Burgundy red to pair with veal in a mushroom sauce or roasted pheasant with chestnuts.