2016 Latour-Giraud Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières ‘Cuvée des Pierre’

Latour-Giraud

France / Burgundy / Latour-Giraud

The vineyards of Genevrières total 16 hectares in the heart of the Meursault premiers crus, south of the village. The name of the appellation comes from the juniper trees that used to grow there. Domaine Latour-Giraud is the most important owner of this fabulous premier cru, with 2.5Ha. Along with Perrières, this would be considered by most to be Meursault’s top premier cru. The wines have exquisite structure. Round, deep and smooth, it also has great elegance, finesse and raciness. Cuvée des Pierre is a special bottling from an exceptional plot of 50+ year old vines.

September, 2018

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous Media

92-94 points

(Latour made four barrels, vs. a normal three): Medium bright yellow. Deep aromas of musky peach, mirabelle, menthol and flint; there's something a bit sauvage here in a positive way. Dense, plush and sweet, displaying huge fruit in the context of the vintage. Pineapple, ripe peach and spice flavors are nicely framed by lively integrated acidity (actually a bit higher than the cuvée classique, which has 4.8 grams per liter) and buffered by dry extract. Finishes spicy and very long, with an impression of reserve. This youthfully laid-back wine still needs more élevage and should evolve slowly in bottle. Latour says it's “at point zero today, between oxidation and reduction,” adding that the Puligny is “floral and joyous while this wine is more upright and rigorous but not austere.”

June, 2018

Allen Meadows

Burghound

91-94 points

A slightly more expressive nose is comprised by notes of green apple, gardenia, spiced tea and a hint of matchstick. The mouth feel of the ultra-refined yet powerful and serious flavors is presently quite compact while exhibiting an abundance of minerality that carries over to the beautifully well-balanced, youthfully austere and moderately dry finale. This should be excellent.

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About Latour-Giraud

It was a memorable tasting in Meursault in the European spring of 2018. Jean-Pierre Latour stood back and left the whites to press their irresistible case: aromatically enticing, seductive, resonant and mineral-inflected. Jean-Pierre's oldest known ancestor living from the vine was Jean Latour-Boillot, born about 1680, while the Giraud family were distillers in Meursault. The two domaines were united in 1958 with a marriage between the two families. These days production of the 10-hectare domaine is a little over 80% white, with the majority of vines across five premiers crus of Meursault: Les Genevrières, Les Charmes, Les Perrières, Les Bouchères and Le Poruzot. days production of the 10-hectare domaine is a little over 80% white, with the majority of vines across five premiers crus of Meursault: Les Genevrières, Les Charmes, Les Perrières, Les Bouchères and Le Poruzot.

About

Jean-Pierre Latour first got his hands dirty in the cellar back in 1983, then took the helm in '93. It’s really since the mid-2000s that he feels he’s nailed this style of white Burgundy - which he defines, justifiably, as “richness, purity and elegance, so that the wines finish fresh”. The whites are whole-bunch pressed, receiving a first racking at the end of August, when Jean-Pierre looks at the quality of lees to take forward. Bâtonnage is often part of the equation, but close observation of the vintage dictate frequency and duration. The wines are raised in oak for 11 to 12 months, with about 20% new oak for Bourgogne and village, and 25% for the premiers crus. Lovely reds from Pommard and Volnay are further evidence of Jean-Pierre’s sureness of touch.