Please note: We regret that, just like all fine wine merchants, we are unable to sell leading Grand Cru and Premier Cru or wines from particularly sought after domaines in isolation – we cannot buy them from the domaines that way ourselves and we are aware that demand is sure to outstrip supply. Instead of running a complex system of allocations, we aim to confirm requests shortly after they are made or highlight where we are unable to assist or where a balance might be required to secure a particularly desirable wine.
Three years into our relationship with Domaine Latour-Giraud, we are happier and happier that we started working with the charming and mild-mannered Jean-Pierre Latour and his family. With each tasting we remain impressed by the effortless ease and naturalness of the wines. With a few vintages already shipped, we have now started opening more bottles, albeit with only a couple of years age, and find every bottle delivers pure pleasure. Everyone with whom we have shared these bottles has been full of praise.
The Domaine is managed by Jean-Pierre Latour, who first came to run the family-business in the 1990s. Through a meticulous programme of cutting yields and by developing careful non-interventionist practices, quality at the estate has skyrocketed. Jean-Pierre creates powerful, complex and yet balanced and refined white Burgundy. He ferments free-run juice with wild yeasts, ages the Premier Cru partially in new barrels and ensures the maximum possible contact with lees. Fastidious attention in the cellars means that individual cru will be bottled when they are ready – this can vary greatly from site-to-site and vintage-to-vintage.
The overall impression here is of wines of elegance and precision, wines that are completely unforced in any way – natural, flowing, expressive of their village and vineyard, wines that you just want to drink more of. What more needs to be said?
2017 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Domiane Latour Giraud
£90 per 6 bottle case in bond
Fresh, clean, pure style. Subtle almond touch with apple and white stone fruit on the flowing palate. Drink 2019-2021
2017 Meursault, Les Narvaux, Domiane Latour Giraud
£210 per 6 bottle case in bond
Subtle peach aromas allied to a gently creamy note. The palate is crisp and fresh with pristine lemon and lime citrus length. Lovely clarity and precision here with a mineral cut exemplifying the taut, linear style of Narvaux. Drink 2020-2025
2017 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Bouchères, Domiane Latour Giraud
£240 per 6 bottle case in bond
Restrained notes of peach and citrus on the nose which expand on the attack before the palate tightens with a chalky-mineral power. Once again, there is wonderful clarity and precision here but with a juicy fruit quality coming through on the finish together with a growing sense of mineral energy and precision. Drink 2022-2026
2017 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Charmes, Domiane Latour Giraud
£295 per 6 bottle case in bond
Pure and precise but with a more supple expression. There is a broad swathe of fruit on the attack; round and full, with an opulence and a fruit-rich mid-palate. The finish is full of energy and tension and there is a noteworthy fresh length. Drink 2022-2026
2017 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Genevrières, Domiane Latour Giraud
£295 per 6 bottle case in bond
The perfumed, lime-floral style of Genevrières is here on the nose. The palate opens with a wonderful mouthful of yellow citrus fruit and a juicy fruit quality, such that you almost fear a lack of tension but instead a smoky mineral quality gently asserts itself and a subtly expressed energy pulls the palate into focus on a fine lemon and lime-laden finish. As Jean-Pierre Latour himself says: “deep and rich but without any heaviness; very elegant.” Drink 2022-2026
2017 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Genevrières, Cuvée des Pierres, Domiane Latour Giraud
£380 per 6 bottle case in bond
A waxy touch and wet stone notes give way to a scented core of citrus with a subtle tropical fruit edge. Crushed rock. There is a richness on the attack, palate-coating with pure, fresh yellow orchard fruit. The finish is long and mineral but all coated with juicy citrus fruit, subtle and persistent, balancing fruit power with mineral precision. Drink 2022-2026
2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, Les Champs Canet, Domiane Latour Giraud
£320 per 6 bottle case in bond
The nose displays a smoky note of bacon fat. There is fine intensity here and the richness of fruit across the palate typical of this warmer Puligny Premier Cru terroir. Great tension again and an appealing wet stone grip at the end. Great vibrancy and precision. Drink 2022-2027
2017 Volnay 1er Cru, Clos des Chênes, Domiane Latour-Giraud
£270 per 6 bottle case in bond
Pure red fruit nose, perfumed violet and cherry blossom. The palate opens with a bright, fresh fruit quality which is flowing, ripe and gently textured. A spicy touch towards the finish gives way to length of fresh loganberry and wild raspberry underscored by fine tannins and refined minerality. Drink 2022-2030