Domaine des Comtes Lafon is a benchmark estate within Burgundy, renowned for its meticulous approach and highly expressive white wines. Your selection, "Cuvée Barre" 2018, comes from a Premier Cru classification, signifying exceptional quality and origin, although the precise vineyard isn't specified here. The wine, produced predominantly from Chardonnay, reflects both the nuanced work of the domaine and the singular character of the 2018 vintage. The growing season was marked by a warm, dry summer resulting in grapes that reached excellent maturity while retaining their vital acidity. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in oak barrels, partial malolactic fermentation, and judicious ageing on lees are typical hallmarks of the domaine’s style, providing complex layers of stone fruits, citrus, white flowers and finely integrated oak notes.
Burgundy is celebrated as the spiritual home of Chardonnay, aided by a patchwork of clay-limestone soils which impart a remarkable depth and mineral character to the wines. The region’s semi-continental climate, with its marked seasonal variations, extremes of temperature and occasional risks of frost or hail during the growing season, make each vintage truly individual. History and tradition are at the heart of viticulture here, and its Premier Cru vineyards, painstakingly classified over centuries, showcase the profound connection between grape and terroir.
Given the wine's dynamic profile—racy acidity, textural richness, and subtle oak—it performs beautifully with sophisticated poultry dishes such as poulet de Bresse in cream sauce, or seared scallops with beurre blanc. Soft cheeses such as Brillat-Savarin or Chaource will also flatter its creamy side, while the classic partnership of roast lobster with lemon butter underlines the wine’s luxurious texture and finesse. For a Burgundian touch, try it with gougères, those delicate cheese-filled choux pastries.
For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine slightly chilled at 12-14°C to express its layered aromatics and supple palate. Decanting for thirty minutes prior to serving can further enhance its expressive range. While already immensely pleasurable, this wine can be cellared for several years to reach even greater complexity and integration.
