The 2019 vintage is a difficult one for Jean-Pierre Latour with yields only half of what they were in each of 2017 and 2018 but he is very pleased with the results.
He describes 2019 as more serious, more structured than 2018. The 2019s show incredible energy and freshness together with the fine concentration, particularly notable in the Premiers Crus, which suffered greater crop loss due to the slightly earlier timing of their flowering. The wines really communicate their individual terroir and show no heat. Jean-Pierre’s care and understanding of each individual vineyard continues to shine through in his descriptions and explanations: the purity and restrained minerality of Narvaux; the floral notes and subtle persistence of his Bouchères; the open, fuller nature of Charmes; the complexity, elegance and energy of Genevrieres – in both his cuvées; the minerality and poise of the Puligny Champs Canet.
The wines always seem to show such healthy fruit, good ripeness, silky, flowing mid-palates and vibrant citrus and mineral energy on the finishes. And they continue to represent such astonishing value.
2019 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£90 per 6 bottle case in bond
Drink 2021-2023
2019 Meursault Les Narvaux, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£210 per 6 bottle case in bond
Subtle nutty notes mingle with bright, yellow citrus on the nose. Pure, clean, precise yet open and full of healthy ripe fruit. Nothing warm or exotic here, just a remarkable cool, fresh character. The palate is elegant and well delineated with precision evident. Long with ripe lemon and yellow grapefruit, a subtle mineral grip bringing structure and poise. Lovely balance and fresh, lemony length. Drink 2021-2026
2019 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Bouchères, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£240 per 6 bottle case in bond
Delicacy, tension, energy. There is such restraint here, such poise. Clean, pure, healthy, vibrant yet tightly wound. Jean-Pierre Latour talks of the fragile nature of Bouchères, that it needs great care to express itself. He has evidently given the requisite care as the energy and dynamism are clear in a long, elegant, pristine finish. A really beautiful Bouchères in 2019 that will probably keep a little longer than usual. Drink 2022-2029
2019 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Charmes, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£295 per 6 bottle case in bond
An immediately richer broader style. Ripe citrus on the nose is mixed with notes of hazelnut and a subtle touch of baked cream. There is a certain breadth on the palate, with the creamy touch coming through and good mid-palate weight. Then the juicy, pure, ripe fruit comes back on a long, mouth-watering finish with subtle power and fine mineral tension providing structure and direction. Drink 2023-2032
2019 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Genevrières, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£310 per 6 bottle case in bond
The nose here shows wonderful concentration and a sense of tension. There is so much energy here and such precision of fruit. Lovely power of lime citrus fruit on the finish, which shows incredible mineral intensity and persistence. A fine contrast to the Charmes in terms of palate structure but equally vibrant, long and charged with a level of energy that should see this, like the other wines in the range, keep for more years than usual despite the evident early appeal. Drink 2023-2032
2019 Meursault 1er Cru, Les Genevrières, Cuvée des Pierre, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£380 per 6 bottle case in bond
Drink 2023-2030
2019 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, Les Champs Canet, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£330 per 6 bottle case in bond
Drink 2022-2030
2019 Volnay 1er Cru, Clos des Chênes, Domaine Latour-Giraud
£270 per 6 bottle case in bond
Drink 2023-2033