2022 Domaine Michel Lafarge Beaune 1er Cru "Les Aigrots"

s befits the elevated position of Aigrots, this is quite airy, cool and elegant with its array of both red and dark cherry, subtle floral nuances and a touch of wet stone character. The beautifully textured and tension filled middleweight flavors flash evident minerality on the lightly austere and balanced finish. This does though need to develop better depth so at least a few years of cellaring should prove beneficial.

The 2022 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Aigrots is pretty and fine-boned, offering up aromas of cherries, petals, orange zest and raw cocoa, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and lively palate. The 2022 vintage was showing well during my annual barrel tasting chez Lafarge, emphasizing the charming, pretty side of the year. The team began picking on August 26, another early harvest. As usual, reds were destemmed, in some cases manually, and élevage is taking place in predominantly used barrels, with the Lafarge's habitual racking with aeration. The result is wines with a resolutely old-school style that have a good track record of evolving gracefully in the cellar.(WK)