Louis Latour Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2021

Louis Latour, a Burgundy house dating to the late eighteenth century and still in the same family, makes this red from the famous walled Grand Cru vineyard of Clos de Vougeot in the Côte de Nuits, using fruit from around forty-year-old Pinot Noir vines. The clos runs across limestone and clay soils, and the older vines dig deep into this base to give concentration and the complex, earthy character that marks fine Côte de Nuits Pinot Noir. The cool climate and modest yields preserve the variety's acidity and perfume. After fermentation the wine is aged in oak, much of it from the house's own cooperage, where slow oxygen exchange settles the tannins and adds a fine spice while keeping the fruit clear. This is a structured, savoury Burgundy built to age. It shows an intense red hue with garnet at the rim, and aromas of red cherry, blackcurrant and redcurrant lifted by rose and a forest-floor earthiness. The palate is medium bodied with silky, fine tannins and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 16 degrees in a Burgundy glass, with a little air for younger bottles. It suits duck, game and roast beef.