I bought this wine in Banská Bystrica while visiting the city for the Christmas markets. As part of our walk around the city and looking for Christmas gifts, we also visited classic shops. My wife went to “her” shops and I went to the wine shop, where I walked between the shelves and thought about what to buy as a gift. I immediately rejected New World wines, not only because I needed to support my European production, but mainly because I was craving the classic European taste of a fine red wine. Finally, my eyes fell on this Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir is one of the oldest cultivated grape varieties and the variety most closely associated with the Burgundy region. Its history in the Côte d’Or region dates back at least to the Middle Ages, when Cistercian monks systematically selected it according to individual locations and soils. Pinot Noir is a variety with a thin skin, naturally lower color content and high sensitivity to terroir. It is in the Bourgogne Contrôlée appellation that it serves as a reference expression of the Burgundian style – without ambition for concentration, with an emphasis on elegance and acidity. The Côte d’Or, the backbone of Burgundy, provides ideal conditions thanks to its limestone-clay soils and mild continental climate.
The Louis Latour winery is one of the most important and longest-running family wineries in Burgundy. Its history dates back to 1797 and remains in the hands of the Latour family to this day. The winery owns vineyards in the key appellations of Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits and has long maintained its reputation as a producer who builds on continuity, not short-term trends. Louis Latour is known for its emphasis on traditional values and long-term ownership of plots. An interesting feature is the in-house production of oak barrels in the workshop in Aloxe-Corton, which allows precise control of the wine aging style.
The grapes for Pinot Noir 2021 come from selected plots in the Côte d’Or, harvested with an emphasis on their optimal phenolic ripeness. After gentle destemming, classic fermentation in stainless steel tanks follows to preserve the fruitiness and purity of expression. The wine then ages for approximately 10 to 12 months in oak barrels, some of which are new, the rest used. Oak is used sparingly, in order to support the structure, not to cover the character of Pinot Noir.
Wine description:
Medium-intensity ruby color with subtle garnet reflections, typical of young Burgundian Pinot Noir.
The aroma is clean and precise. Red fruits dominate – cherries, raspberries and wild strawberries – complemented by subtle notes of dried herbs, mycelium and a subtle touch of spice. The oak barrel aging is discreet, in the form of a hint of vanilla and toast.
The taste of the wine is dry, medium-full, with balanced acidity. The fruit expression follows the aroma, complemented by a delicate mineral line typical of the Côte d’Or. The tannins are soft, well-integrated, the finish is medium-long, elegant and clean.
The amount of alcohol is 13.0% vol.
Recommended serving temperature 15–16°C.
Pinot Noir 2021 wine is suitable for roast chicken, veal, duck breast, delicate preparations of rabbit, or mushroom dishes. It will also create a good combination in combination with soft cheeses covered with white mold.
The wine in the Bourgogne category regularly receives stable ratings in professional guides, mainly for its consistent quality and typical Burgundian expression. The specific 2021 vintage is perceived as a classic, with an emphasis on elegance and drinkability.
Pinot Noir 2021 (Appellation Bourgogne Contrôlée) by Louis Latour is a precise and readable entry into the world of Burgundy red wines. The wine is suitable for those looking for a classic Pinot Noir from Burgundy with a clear origin, without technological exaggeration and with an emphasis on the long-proven style of the house of Louis Latour.
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