2015 Louis Latour Beaune Perrieres Premier Cru

Our many Louis Latour sell-outs have earned us generous access to their cellar—but one bottle has eluded us for as long as it’s been on our minds. It’s Latour’s exquisite Pinot Noir from Beaune’s rocky Les Perrières Premier Cru, a wine made in such tiny quantities that few US retailers ever see a case. 

Les Perrières is a great site that attracts greatness. In addition to Latour, de Montille and Leroy both head to the rocky, high-elevation site for the tightly bunched, concentrated Pinot Noir berries that grow there—and in the “paradise” 2015 vintage, Latour tapped the site for one of the most sublime wines we’ve ever had the pleasure of bringing up from their cellar. 

Perfectly aged after six years of slumber, this wine is blossoming with all the qualities that make this site so sought after. Bright ruby to the rim, it’s got abundant aromas of fresh raspberry and wild strawberry accented by forest floor, mushroom, leather, violets, and star anise. Flavors of red cherry, licorice, earth, and baking spices are all carried on fine, softening tannins that make for a finish so silky it borders on ethereal. 

The best Burgundies generally require patience to reveal their true glory, and it’s usually up to you to buy early and cellar on your own. But today you get a rare shot at an aged Burgundy from a sublime site, revered producer, and renowned vintage. Drinking beautifully right now, this is the kind of wine you can plan an entire evening around or put away for another decade.

There’s a reason that Louis Latour is one of the most important producers in Burgundy, and a favorite among our members. 250 years of experience in the region have given the family unmatched access to prime vineyard land and unparalleled expertise in the cellars. After acquiring their first vineyards in the Côte d’Or in 1731, they’ve expanded their network each century since, allowing them to offer top-class wines at prices that make them top-class values as well.

A plot of less than eight acres, Les Perrières is one of the most respected lieux-dits in Beaune. The east-facing site sits at nearly 1,000 feet of elevation in the northern part of the appellation. The clay-limestone soils of Les Perrières are shallow and poor due to the steep slope, and known for producing structured, powerful wines that cellar beautifully.  

In addition to their access to top vineyards and growers, Latour has resources that few of their peers can match in the cellar. They’re the only producer in Burgundy to own their own cooperage, which allows them to custom-build each barrel to perfectly complement their wines. That ethos of control and craftsmanship extends all the way through their process, from farming to bottling, and sets them apart from their peers.

A wine like this Beaune Perrières shows off exactly how great Louis Latour can be in a top vintage. As Vinous titled their report on the 2015 Burgundies, “You Are So Going to Want Them.” That’s exactly how we feel about this wine, and hope you’ll join us in stocking up.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 13.50%
• 30 mins
• Now – 2036
• % Pinot Noir
• Serving temperature – 58°
• Cork