Wines Unspecified Domaine S Comtes Lafon - 2008

Viniou Reviews

Domaine des Comtes Lafon is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious producers in Burgundy, particularly renowned for their benchmark white wines crafted from Chardonnay. Your 2008 Premier Cru blanc is a superb example of both the domaine's skill and the vintage’s signature. 2008 was a classic year in Burgundy, giving wines with remarkable tension, freshness, and ageing potential. The grapes, grown on limestone-rich soils typical of the Côte de Beaune, are meticulously hand-picked and vinified using traditional Burgundian methods. Ageing in fine French oak barrels (often with a restrained percentage of new wood) imparts layers of complexity, allowing the wine’s natural minerality to shine alongside subtle notes of toast and nuttiness.

Burgundy’s unique terroir is essential to the character of this wine. The region enjoys a continental climate, with marked seasonal variation contributing to the grape’s slow and balanced ripening. The soils, primarily rich in chalk and marl, provide the structure and minerality that set great white Burgundies apart from other Chardonnays worldwide. With a viticultural history stretching back to medieval times, Burgundy is famed for its meticulous vineyard mapping and an unrivalled focus on terroir, giving birth to the Premier Cru system that distinguishes top sites even within a single appellation.

This layered, elegant Premier Cru would make a stunning partner to classic dishes such as lobster thermidor, scallops in beurre blanc, or a delicately roasted Bresse chicken. For a more regional experience, try with a creamy poultry dish like poulet à la crème or with Burgundy’s famed escargots in garlic and butter. Mature Comtes Lafon can handle fuller flavours, including rich fish dishes and even some aged cheeses, such as Comté or a young, creamy Époisses.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine slightly cooled but not too cold, to allow all its aromatics and texture to express themselves – ideally around 12-14°C. Decanting for thirty minutes can help the wine open up, revealing its intricate bouquet of citrus, white flowers, hazelnut and subtle oak. This is a wine to savour slowly, appreciating its refined balance and lingering finish.