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What We Say 2005 Nuits-St-Georges
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
Today’s wine is, in a word, delicious! This 2005 Burgundy is another stellar example of how wonderful Pinot Noir can be.
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Mission Codename: Golden Slopes, Dark Nights
Operative: Agent White & Agent Blush
Objective: Secure a limited allocation of a delicious Cote D’Or rouge representative of our recent visit to Burgundy.
Mission Status: Accomplished
Current Winery: Maison Louis Latour
Wine Subject: 2005 Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC
Backgrounder:
Nothing inspires thoughts of excellent Pinot Noir more than the Crus of the Cote de Nuits in Burgundy. And within the Cote de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC represents wines of dark robust color, profound structure and full-bodied flavors that have made the region famous. These wines age well with many known to retain their rich and spicy aromas, bold fruit flavors and subtle earthiness for up to 20 years.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Deep burgundy in color with garnet hues and a clear core. Ruby, fading to pink edges and fast thin legs race down the sides of the glass when swirled.
Smell – Classic and medium-bold, but also elegant aromas of wild fennel, floral violets layered over cherry and dark currant fruit with a slight barnyard and mushroom earthiness.
Feel – Smooth and dry, this medium-bodied wine has fine tannins and medium acidity leading to a round and elegant mouth-feel.
Taste – Flavors of ripe cherry along with other red and black berries that are extremely well integrated with earthy barnyard notes, a touch of fennel and horseradish that hits on the tip of the tongue and back of the palate and hints of oak.
Finish – Clean and lingering with layers of fruit, earthiness, spice and oak that evolves as you continue to enjoy this classic Burgundy.
Conclusion – The 2005 Louis Latour Nuits-Saint-Georges is a delicious and classic rouge from one of the best vintages in recent memory. This wine drinks beautifully immediately upon opening and as all great Burgundies do, it evolves as you continue to explore the aromas and flavors of this fine example from one of our favorite communes in the Cote D’Or. This wine will develop gracefully for the next 5-10 years but is also ready to drink now.
Mission Report:
I was in a haze, everything seemed dull and slow. I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breathe. Suddenly things came into focus. Had I fallen asleep at the wheel? I was driving down the Route des Grand Crus from Dijon towards Beaune. Just ahead was the commune of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The steeple of Saint Denis was starting to come into view.
I didn’t want to take any chances so once in the village I pull over to the side of the road and parked the car. Agent Blush and I got out and stretched our legs and walked into the village. Still feeling a little strange, I suggested that we find a place to grab a bite to eat and compose ourselves.
We found a small cafe just off the square and sat down. On one of the two chalk boards was the daily formula and on the other a selection of wines from the region. I was starting to feel better. I mean, what’s better than a great rustic Burgundian meal complimented by some great wine.
We started off with a plate of escargots to share and I ordered the boeuf bourguignon and Blush ordered coq au vin. To accompany the mail we had a a glass each, Agent Blush a blanc and me a rouge. There is just something unique about enjoying a great meal with great wine in the heart of it all. You could have pinched me, for I thought I was in heaven.
Escargots and some great wine in Burgundy
Just then I felt a sharp pain in my right arm and again things went fuzzy. As I blinked and rubbed my eyes, I was back in the office with Agent Blush standing over me.
" Are you just going to sleep or are you going to finish your tasting notes?", she said.
“Huh? what, where am I?”
“Not again!, Just finish your notes on this wine,” she said as she left my office…
In the glass in front of me was the 2005 Louis Latour Nuits-Saint-Georges. Who would have thought that a simple tasting would have caused such a deep hallucination… But when the wine is good, the memories will follow.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the commune of Nuits-Saint-George can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Maison Louis Latour
About This Wine:
The most southerly of the villages of the Côte de Nuits this region makes up the other half of the Côte d’Or. There is even an equivalent to the Hospices de Beaune Auction called the Hospices de Nuits Auction although it rarely inspires as much interest as its neighbour to the south. The wines of this appellation are dark in color, and quite firm. They lack the elegance of the other regions in the Nuits, but can be the longest lived wines in the region. The wine is firm and usually requires some time before allowing its Pinot character to shine through.
Tasting Notes:
You will be enchanted with this powerful and round wine. It has a great bouquet of licorice aromas along with more gamey aromas. Once on the palate the tannins are mellow and the flavors that come forth are those of ripe fruits. Great harmony that promises us great enjoyment after five years of cellaring.
About The Winery:
The family-run company of Maison Louis Latour is one of the most highly-respected négociant-éléveurs in Burgundy. Renowned throughout the world for the quality of its red and white wines, the company has built a reputation for tradition and innovation.
Regarded as one of the traditional négociant-éléveurs, Maison Louis Latour is the producer of some of the finest Burgundian wines but has also pioneered the production of fine wines from outside of the confines of Burgundy.
These wines from the Ardèche and the Côteaux de Verdon are slowly gaining esteem for their unmatchable quality outside of Burgundy.
The Latour family themselves have been viticulteurs since the 17th century, slowly building up a unique Domaine of 50 hectares (125 acres). This Domaine has the largest Grand Cru property in the Cote d’Or with a total of 28,63 hectares (71,58 acres) . The vineyards extend from Chambertin in the north to Chevalier-Montrachet in the south and are solely planted with the two noble grape varieties ; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
All of the grapes from the vineyards we own are vinified and aged in the attractive cuverie of Château Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. A unique rail-way system with elevators allows the entire wine-making process to be achieved by the use of gravity. This eliminates the threat of oxidation from unnecessary pumping of the must. Since 1985 Louis Latour has been selling the wines of its own vineyards under the name Domaine Louis Latour.
The Latour family founded the ‘Maison de négoce’, an important shipping company, in 1797 and is still based at 18 Rue des Tonneliers in Beaune. The company is unique in Burgundy in that it is still to this day family owned and family run, having passed down from father to son for over ten generations.
In 1997 to celebrate our Bicentenary, we published a commemorative book and were admitted into the exclusive club of the Hénokiens. This club only admits companies that are leaders in their respective fields, remain family owned, have a history of 200 years’ experience and still bares the name of the founder.
There are only approximately 30 of these companies in the world. To this day Maison Louis Latour ships its wines to over 60 different countries worldwide and will be found on some of the most famous dining tables around the globe.
Technical Analysis:
Appelation: Nuits St. Georges AOC
Region: Côte de Nuits
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation: Open vat fermentation
Aging: 12 months ageing in oak barrels
Soil: Clay and limestone
Agent Blush at St. Denis in Nuits-Saint-Georges
