The famous Jamie Goode interviewed Jean-Marc Lafage about his story as the Domaine’s, and gave some very nice reviews for our wines :
Domaine Lafage Centenaire 2019 Côtes Catalanes, France
13% alcohol. 80% Grenache Blanc and Gris, and 20% Roussanne from old bush vines (95-100 years old) planted in Canet en Roussillon near the sea. It’s harvested in two lots: one is picked earlier and then barrel fermented in new French oak (30%), and then the remainder is picked a bit later and fermented in stainless steel. The result is a beautifully balanced harmonious white, offering textured pear, white peach and citrus fruit. There’s a faint saline note here, and also some crushed rock savouriness, as well as rounded fruit hemmed in by nice lemony acidity, expanding on the finish. The oak has integrated beautifully with fine spices the only contribution. Very sophisticated and great value (UK retail c £12). 94/100
Domaine Lafage La Grande Cuvée Blanc 2018 Côtes du Roussillon, France
13% alcohol. 70% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Macabeu. Schist soils, 300 m altitude, east facing. Old vines (80 years) barrel fermented in 500 l barrels. This is fresh and complex with finely textured pear, apple and white peach fruit with some notes of fennel and toast, as well as a hint of lime and vanilla, adding freshness and a touch of sweetness. It’s a layered, complex white wine with finesse and elegance, set up for a long life. It’s delicious now, but has such potential for development. Just fabulous. 94/100
Domaine Lafage Nicolas Vieilles Vignes de Grenache 2019 Côtes Catalanes, France
15% alcohol. Enticing and fresh with sweet cherry and berry fruit with notes of pepper and herbs, this shows great concentration but also finesse. It’s more red fruits than black, with some structure and a fine green hint that adds brightness, and no noticeable oak. This is all about wonderfully pure, concentrated fruit, showing Grenache off in its finest light. So supple. 93/100
Domaine Lafage Léa Les 20 Ans 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Les Aspres, France
14.5% alcohol. This is the 20th vintage of Cuvée Léa. The vines are at 300 m in Les Aspres (in Maury) with schist/marble soils. There’s 60% Grenache and 20% Carignan (both 80 year old vines) and 20% younger Syrah. This is fermented in opened up 500 litre barrels. This is supple and fresh with a savoury, slightly cedary edge to the sweet cherry and plum fruit. It’s really appealing with ripe fruit and some liquorice and herb notes. Very stylish with a bit of grunt, but the dominant theme is sweet, pure black fruits. 92/100
Domaine Lafage Narassa 2018 Côtes Catalanes, France
15% alcohol. 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah. This is a distinctive wine. Back in 2015 Lafage forgot a plot of Grenache and ended up harvesting it at 17% potential alcohol. Because of the high sugar, fermentation stopped with around 10 g/l sugar left, so they blended in some fresh 12.5% Syrah from a high altitude vineyard to give balance, making a Ripasso style. A portion of the blend was matured in sweet Maury barrels. The result is a rich, generous, textural red wine with some cedar and spice notes under the sleek cherry and berry fruits. It’s very rich and generous, and so smoothly textured with some spice and herb and medicine notes on the finish, adding a foil to the sweetness. A really distinctive red, with all the warmth of the south. 91/100
Saint-Roch Chimères 2018 Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France
15% alcohol. This is from the Agly Valley at the foot of the Castle of Queribus, next to Maury. It’s a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Carignan (these first two varieties bush vines) and 30% Syrah (trellised). Chalky clay and black schist soils. A blend of larger barrels and concrete tanks. This is ripe and expressive with sweet berry and cherry fruits, and a bit of chalkiness to the palate. It’s also a tiny bit salty. Lovely weight with nice fruit expression, some southern warmth, and lovely drinkability. Walks the tightrope between ripeness and jamminess pretty well. 92/100