Louis Latour Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2007 ★★
It’s only now when I look back at my notes from this tasting that I notice a distinct preference for Louis Latour’s 2007 wines over the 2005 offerings.
It wasn’t intentional at the time. Having unwittingly arrived one and a half hours late to the venue, I spent the following 30 minutes furiously tasting to try to catch up with the rest of the group as Latour’s sales director Bruno Prepin spoke about the vagaries of vintage.
For most of the wines (both white and red) tasted from the much-lauded ’05 vintage, I had written “tight”, “closed”, “shy” and other similes with my scores reflecting their austerity.
On the other hand, I praised all the ‘07s Loius Latour whites – specifically the briny Chassange Montrachet village white and the rich, powerful Puligny Montrachet “Hameau de Blagny” premier cru – for their fruit-forward charm and attractive acid
Of course, there’s only so much one should infer from a tasting featuring just one producer; but in an industry where knowledge of growing seasons and vintage ratings hold so much sway, the exercise was a timely reminder that for at-once drinking rather than long-term cellaring – it’s perfectly acceptable to reach for a lesser (and sometimes cheaper) vintage.
But having said that, while the 2007 vintage in Burgundy might not be attracting the same plaudits heaped on 2005, it (sadly) doesn’t mean we’ll be finding too many ’07 grand crus in the bin end clearance bins – at least not any time soon.
RRP prices aren’t available for this wine yet in Australia, but expect to pay somewhere near the $500 mark. If you buy a bottle and are opening it soon, be sure to drop me an email.
Louis Latour Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2007
Hints of this wine’s power were evident from the get-go with heady aromas moving side-to-side between tropical fruit and wet river stones. Plenty of flavour in the mouth – think tightly packed banana, lemon and apple flavours rounded off with hints of cashew. Yet despite the latent power within, streams of well-coiled acid give the wine tremendous elegance while sustaining the palate’s flavour right through to the long, long, l-o-n-g finish where almond nuances lead the charge with citrus-hued flavours lending support. Although the palate will evolve and reveal more and more of itself in time, I find this wine deliciously approachable now. www.louislatour.com @LouisLatourInc
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