Volnay 1er Cru "En
Chevret" 2009, Côte
de Beaune
Our second wine, the Volnay Premier
Cru "En Chevret" is from rocky soil,
high in iron content. The wine has a 92
rating from Wine Spectator. During the
tasting, both Sanderson and Latour
the best years to drink this one. It
rich mouthfeel. Unlike the previous wines
retails for approximately $63.
that were aged for 12 months, this one is
made of wines aged 14 to 18 months. It
is a favorite with the major wine
Gevrey-Chambertin
1er cru "Les
Cazetiers" 2009, Côte
de Nuits
magazines, getting a 93 from Wine
Enthusiast and a 92 from Wine
Spectator. Both Latour and Sanderson
believe this wine will age beautifully over
the coming decade. It retails for about
$120 per bottle.
defined this wine as "more feminine"
The Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru "Les
than the first. I felt that it is definitely
Cazetiers" is from a vineyard just 10 km
more delicate than the Aloxe-Corton
out of Dijon that has maximum exposure
"Les Chaillots." Although it has a less
to the sun early in the day. The wine has
powerful profile, the color is an intense
received 91 points from Wine Enthusiast
ruby red and both the taste and the
and is quite powerful on the palette. The
nose are of plums and strawberries.
Gevrey-Chambertin has subtle floral
This wine, from grapes in the Village
notes, but strong minerals and tannins.
The last of the Latour wines we tasted,
of Volnay with an easterly exposure, is
The nice acidity helps to balance it out
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les
and Sanderson referred to this wine as
Quatre Journaux," was also aged longer,
"masculine and powerful." The gorgeous
about 14 to 18 months. It received a 93
dark cherry color and full mouth feel
score from both Wine Spectator and
makes this a memorable wine. This wine
Wine Enthusiast. The wine has notes of
is great to drink now and retails for about
cherry and spice and you can feel the
$50.
tannins on the finish. The finish is quite
much more elegant than the AloxeCorton. Latour suggested this wine will be
in its prime between 2015 and 2030. It
retails for approximately $50.
Beaune 1er Cru
"Vignes Franches"
2009, Côte de
Beaune
We moved on to the third wine, the
Romanée-Saint-Vivant
Grand Cru "Les
Quatre Journaux"
2009, Côte de Nuits
powerful, but I believe it still tastes
Château Corton
Grancey Grand Cru
2009, Côte de Beaune
Corton
Beaune Premier Cru "Vignes
Franches", which also received 92
The Château Corton Grancey Grand Cru
points from Wine Spectator. The
is, in my opinion, one of the best wines I
Beaune is an ideal taste following the
tasted the entire weekend at the
first two wines because it has the
SOBEWFF. In 1891, the Latour family
power of the Aloxe-Corton, but the
took over Château Grancey and have
finesse of the Volnay. This big, rich
been producing wines there since that
wine is a deep garnet red with tastes
time. The vines are all over 40 years old
of raspberry, strawberry and a little
and this isn't a wine they make every
pepper. There are noticeable tannins
year. It is a blend of the best Corton
in this wine, which Sanderson
grapes, each aged individually and then
described as "elegant and graceful."
blended. This is a complex, earthy Pinot
Latour explained that this is a wine
Noir that transported me back to the
that can age for a long time, only
green hills of Burgundy. Both the nose
getting better over the next few years.
and taste are fruity yet spicy with a hint of
He suggested 2015 through 2030 as
coffee. The tannins give it a
somewhat young. I believe this will be an
incredible wine in a few more years and
is possibly one of the best I've tasted
anywhere. I love the hint of chocolate and
spice in this wine. The complexity brings
different aromas and tastes with every sip
and it is a joy drinking this wine. Latour
suggests this wine will be at its peak in
the next five to ten years. It retails for
approximately $310 per bottle.
Both the wines of Maison Louis Latour
and the director, Louis-Fabrice Latour,
are excellent examples of why Burgundy
Pinot Noir wines are held in such high
esteem throughout the world. From a
casual, great-with-dinner wine like the
Beaune or Volnay, to an elegant wine for
special occasions, like the RomanéeSaint-Vivant or Château Corton Grancey,
the wines of Louis Latour make a
statement.