Friendship and Burgundies
In a lifetime of wine events, our Wine.com meeting with the Louis Latour team was one of my best experiences ever! I had known Bernard Retornaz and Mick Cameron for decades, and I had recently met Dannytza Rodriguez—these were my principal contacts with Domaine Louis Latour. My two cool Wine.com colleagues Alex Joeger and Tim Marson, MW as well as other support staff from the Louis Latour team. We were set for a wonderful afternoon of wine, food, and camaraderie. 42 wines later and Chef Bernard’s wonderful lunch, everyone left with smiles from ear to ear.
Bernard Retornaz, President Louis Latour, Inc. (May 10, 2023, San Rafael, CA)
Tasting through a lineup that included Simonnet – Febve Chablis to the grandest of Grand Crus from the Louis Latour was, as expected, a grand experience. Here are my top 10 wines:
· Simonnet – Febve Premier Cru Chablis 2020. While I have enjoyed this wine in previous years, I found this wine outstanding as any Chablis can be. Showing power and restraint is often a goal for many winemakers, yet not always achieved; this one had it all! Offering rustic earth and lovely chalkiness, with tart apple notes. (My Score: 94 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $52.00
·
· Domaine Louis Latour Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru En Caradeux 2020. Even with all the wines I am searching out, I seldom put this appellation on my radar screen, but here it was, and it was out of this world. Intensely chalky, and attractively woodsy in its aromas and flavors. This wine lingered long on my palate. (My Score: 95 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $75.00
·
· Maison Latour Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2020. I always have Puligny-Montrachet as one of my favorite Burgundy appellations, and this one performed like few others. Bright and zippy with aromas and flavors of citrus peel, green apples, and racy minerality. This was a stunner! (My Score: 95 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $135.00
·
· Domaine Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020. Corton-Charlemagne is one of the greatest white wine appellations in the world, and this one came to play. Pure and concentrated it stayed long and lovingly on my palate. Offering ripe peach skin, stone fruits, and a subtle note of nuttiness, this is truly a multifaceted wine. (My Score: 96 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $360.00
·
· Maison Louis Latour Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Clos Poirier 2020. Simply outstanding, this wine was power packed with tremendous complexity. Showing stone fruits, peach skin, an underlying creaminess, and superb length in the finish. (My Score: 97 Points) Suggested Retail Price: Not Available
·
· Domaine Louis Latour Aloxe-Corton Les Chaillots 1er Cru 2020. Enticing, charming, and magical, this wine offered bright red fruits, alluring perfume, and wild strawberries; it stayed lovingly on my palate. (My Score: 94 Points) Suggested Retail: $130.00
·
· Domaine Louis Latour Corton Clos de la Vigne au Saint Grand Cru 2020. There was so much to this wine. With sweet spices, aromatic flowers, and ripe blackberries, this wine offered a lasting and indelible impression. (My Rating: 95 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $210.00
· Domaine Louis Latour Château Corton Grancey 2020. I have been following Corton Grancey for decades and this one performed as I had expected. It was wild and authentic with wild black fruits, hints of minerality, and a long and lasting finish. (My Score: 94 Points) Suggested Retail: $260.00
·
· Domaine Louis Latour Chambertin Grand Cru Cuvée Héritiers Latour 2020. This was such an intense wine showing blackcurrants and lasting boldness with a touch of oak and earth. (My Score: 95 Points) Suggested Retail Price: Not Available
·
· Domaine Louis Latour Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quarte Journaux 2020. I never hesitate when I get a chance to taste wine from this incredible appellation, and this wine proved my instincts correct. It was bright, alluring, and complex. A compelling wine showing red and black fruits, earth, and chalkiness. One of my favorite wines of the afternoon by a long shot. (My Score: 97 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $650.00
I cannot deny that this was an afternoon delight of tasting and savoring some of the world’s finest wines. But most enjoyable was enjoying our friendships. There were no pretensions, just honest conversations about the wines amongst learned and experienced palates. We simply had a grand cru afternoon. Great to be with my pals and colleagues from Louis Latour and Wine.com.
Cheers, Wilfred
