Château de La Tour Grand Cru Clos-Vougeot Cuvée Classique 2019

With so much movement and change across Burgundy these days, even a year can feel like a long time. At Château de la Tour—organic and quality focussed for decades—the movement has been slow and steady. This is largely because they were already coming from such a high base. Nonetheless, if we consider this producer’s development over the last decade, the change has been significant. Those who have followed the wines could not have missed the evolution towards a finer, more approachable style of wine being produced here. Since 2013 the wines have been more luscious, more layered, and with finer tannins, yet without any loss of terroir, power or authenticity.

Château de La Tour Grand Cru Clos-Vougeot Cuvée Classique is drawn predominantly from the domaine’s vines situated mid-slope in the Clos de Vougeot, and also from some plots on the lower and upper parts. There are six parcels in total, including the lieux-dits of Montiottes Basses and Quartier Marei Bas (also home to the 1910-planted Vieilles Vignes parcel). The smallest holdings are those in the Quatorze-Journaux and Baudes-Saint-Martin—two parcels at the bottom of the slope which sandwich Etienne Grivot’s vines. La Plante L'Abbé is at the top of the Clos, near the château and the Grands-Échezeaux border. All these sites are now pushing an average 70 years of age and have been managed organically for well over 20 years.

As for all the reds here, this was fermented with mostly whole bunches in old concrete vats. It was then aged in barrels which were fashioned, according to the season, by renowned Burgundian cooper Stéphane Chassin. The percentage of new oak for this wine currently hovers between 30 and 50%. Like all Labet’s Château de La Tour wines, this was bottled unfiltered.

This is an outstanding, old vine cuvée from great terroir, that will drink beautifully young or old—it represents outstanding value in its class.

The 2019 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet berries, raw cocoa, loamy soil and incense. Medium to full-bodied, deep and elegantly muscular, it has lively acids, powdery tannins and a classically balanced, youthfully reserved profile. It's a touch finer-boned and more vibrant than its 2018 counterpart at the same stage. - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, 92-94+ points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2019
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%