Burgundy is one of the great wine regions of France and therefore of the world.
Small and northerly, whites are fresh, the reds pale and nothing is cheap.
Lovers of Burgundy will tell you that the wines have an elegance, delicacy and food-friendly hedonism that nowhere else quite achieves.
I have always rather preferred white Burgundy to red and whenever I have mentioned this to those whose opinions I truly respect, the answer usually comes back that I'm not spending enough.
For Burgundy is expensive and red Burgundy even more so than white.
But if you want to find out what the fuss is all about, Maison Louis Latour have two wines at Tesco that punch above their weight (for Burgundy).
Details
Maison Louis Latour produce some of the finest wines of Burgundy and these two are a complete steal for the quality. A delicious Chardonnay and a tasty Pinot Noir, made from France’s most legendary grapes that have earned Burgundy its reputation.
The wines take their name from La Chanfleure, an old word for a pipette used by the cellarmaster to take wine from the barrel to taste during vinification.
Louis Latour La Chanfleure Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 (Tesco, £15)
This is the ultimate expression of what the Chardonnay grape is capable of on the region’s rolling slopes and clay-limestone soils.
Made from handpicked grapes grown on 30-year-old vines and fermented and aged in stainless steel for 8-10 months.
floral with white peach and almond; fresh green apple and citrus with a refreshing minerality; well-made and elegant.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Drinks nicely on first pouring and will improve with aging.
Serve as an aperitif or match with seafood, roasted vegetables, white meats including lighter game or creamy / white cheeses.
Louis Latour La Chanfleure Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2020 (Tesco, £15)
Pinot Noir has been made and grown in the limestone soils of burgundy since the twelfth century and being a sensitive grape, it picks up terroir variation and carries this through to the wine.
Made from handpicked grapes from 25-year-old vines and traditional fermentation in open vats followed by ageing in stainless steel.
floral, fresh and spicily darkly-fruited; bright, fresh, and savoury with intense cherry, juicy, fresh blackcurrants, black cherries and woodsy-earthy savouriness with soft tannins.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Drinks nicely on first pouring and has some aging potential.
Match with rack of lamb, darker game, or wild mushroom dishes.
Post-script:
We re-sampled the wines a couple of days later, having driven the length and breadth of England to visit various family members. With an ambient temperature of around +12C, we pulled the wines out of the boot and had them with dinner slightly chilled.
Both had improved significantly:
- the white was more saline and nuanced
Good.
- the red had become more rounded and harmonious
Good.
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