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Date Printed: 7/25/2008
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(search item no. 91634)
collectible wine

PRICE ON 7/25/2008: $125.00

Winemaker's Notes:

 A masterpiece in complexity and overall a powerful wine. Notes of roasted almonds with smoky undertones, in addition one finds a slight hint of black powder, and of tartness, proof of its excellent acidity/fruit balance. This wine exhibits buttery aromas, vanilla-like ones that are enhanced with ripe yellow flesh fruit ones; mango. A wine in full evolution, to be enjoyed for many years to come.

After the ravages of the phylloxera aphid at the end of the 19th century it was the Latour family that took the now-celebrated decision to tear up the dead Aligoté and Pinot Noir vines and to replace them with Chardonnay. The vineyard of Corton-Charlemagne is situated in the prime area of the hillside of Corton where its southeasterly aspect ensures maximum exposure to the sun. The fruit is harvested as late as possible to guarantee maximum ripeness. This Grand Cru wine has a citrus bouquet with a rich tropical fruit character. It is intensely powerful and fills the mouth with a multiplicity of flavours ending in a fine, steely finish which lingers on the palate for minutes. This wine needs 4 to 5 years to open up and can age for up to 20 years.
My Notes:

Additional wines from Louis Latour:

About Louis Latour:

 The family-run company of Maison Louis Latour is one of the most highly-respected négociant-éléveurs in Burgundy. Maison Louis Latour is the producer of some of the finest Burgundian wines but has also pioneered the production of fine wines from outside of the confines of Burgundy. These wines from the Ardèche and the Côteaux de Verdon are slowly gaining esteem for their unmatchable quality outside of Burgundy.

The Latour family themselves have been viticulteurs since the 17th century, slowly building up a unique Domaine of 50 hectares (125 acres). This Domaine has the largest Grand Cru property in the Cote d'Or with a total of 28,63 hectares (71,58 acres) . The vineyards extend from Chambertin in the north to Chevalier-Montrachet in the south and are solely planted with the two noble grape varieties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

All of the grapes from the vineyards owned by the Latour family are vinified and aged in the attractive cuverie of Château Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. A unique railway system with elevators allows the entire wine-making process to be achieved by the use of gravity. This eliminates the threat of oxidation from unnecessary pumping of the must. Since 1985, Louis Latour has been selling the wines of its own vineyards under the name Domaine Louis Latour.