2009 VINTAGE

Magnificent Burgundy!

In 2009 the vines enjoyed ideal conditions during the entire cycle and most importantly during the maturing phase, when they basked in the sunshine. Sunlight and heat were in abundance throughout August and September, resulting in grapes of extraordinary quality, which was revealed throughout vinification. After this process, the authentic character of this vintage can already be perceived.

A remarkable turnaround for Burgundy wines

As of mid-November, the white wines follow the tradition of the great Burgundy classics. Straightforward and pure, they are characterized by distinct acidity, nicely balanced by a good level of maturity. The complexity of the aromas is matched by the liveliness and freshness exhibited on the palate.

The red wines are the real revelation of this vintage! With deep colours, fruity aromas and round, silky tannins, these concentrated, complex wines are already seducing those who taste them. They are well structured and have a great cellar potential.

2007 in Burgundy - A tailor-made vintage

Following the doubts and anxiety caused by an autumnal summer (see Climatology), a sigh of relief was heard around Burgundy as soon as vinification started because of the high quality of the musts tasted. This lovely surprise is a reward for all the efforts made by the professionals in Burgundy who have not hesitated at harvest time to make a rigorous selection, worthy of a masterpiece of haute couture.

The personality of Burgundy wines makes the difference

A charmer. Such is the epithet most frequently employed when Burgundy’s newest vintage is evoked. Nearly two months after the grape harvest, and following a year typified by rather fantastical weather, Burgundy is finally catching its breath. The 2006 vintage, a preoccupying one which never allowed an idle moment, both in the vineyards and in the cellars, excels in its whites and surprises with its reds.

2005 promises to produce outstanding whites, with elegance and opulence beyond the norm and superb, seductive and well-structured red wines.

2004 will be remembered as the year of wonderful surprises. The month of September was hot, dry and sunny contributing to an excellent harvest which in turn gave birth to fruity, elegant wines.

2003 was the kind of year Burgundy has not experienced in a long time. In fact, we would have to go back more than two hundred years to find such elevated temperatures or such an early harvest. The results are healthy and perfectly ripened grapes, and wines which are deeply coloured, fruity, well balanced, and which fully express the character of Burgundy's native soils.

The 2002 Vintage: A Great Year

The trade is unanimous: the harvest was exceptional and 2002 is destined to be a great vintage for Burgundy. A dry summer, a sunny September, splendid grapes with highly concentrated sugars – everything came together to produce structured and complex wines with outstanding aromatic potential.

As of mid-November, the white wines are fine and straightforward, well-balanced with good concentration and well-developed fruit backed by firm acidity.

The reds are vividly and intensely coloured. They have a well-defined structure thanks to firm tannins and a good level of acidity. They are meaty, with agreeable and expressive fruit.

The wines of the 2000 vintage promise well and exhibit a highly diverse palette of aromatic expression. The white wines are rich, well-fruited and of great purity. They have a fine future ahead of them. The red wines have a deep and vivid colour. The nose is fresh and well-fruited. In the mouth they show balance, suppleness and elegance with excellent potential for future development.

THE LAST HARVEST OF THE CENTURY

GENEROUS YIELDS AND EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY FOR BURGUNDY?S 1999 HARVEST Burgundy, France, November 1999 ? The 1999 Burgundy wine harvest was as generous in terms of yield as it was exceptional in terms of quality. According to the Burgundy Wine Bureau (BIVB), the climatic conditions permitted, as happens only rarely, the number of grape bunches per plant to exceed the average of the last five years.

The 1998 vintage was born under good auspices and has real potential. In spite of the occasional capricious weather conditions, the harvest has given us wines full of promise ? some fruity and seductive, others meaty and more structured.

The exciting Burgundy vintage in 1997 is regarded as having produced some of the most charming wines in living memory. The whites are notable for their richness and balance. Full, elegant and well bred, they are for great short to medium term drinking pleasure. The reds have fine intense colour, with well-ripened berry fruits on the nose, and smooth, fleshy flavours in the mouth. They are already very agreeable to drink and, their personality will develop further as they age

Maturity levels were in general high following a long hot summer. The wines from the famous Pinot Noir have an intense ruby red colour with lush red fruit aromas. They are wines that are comparable with the outstanding 88?s and 89?s. The whites are just as outstanding full-bodied with elegant vibrant Chardonnay fruit and sweet white flower and grilled nut aromas. These are wines that have the potential to age magnificently.

Despite a relatively difficult viticultural year Burgundy produce top quality wines and our original forecast on the quality of these 1995?s has largely been confirmed. The reds have excellent colour and power with fine Pinot fruit aromas and an excellent backbone of finely crafted tannins. This means that they will need some ageing before they develop and reach their full potential. Jean-Pierre Jobard the cellar-master expects the ?95 vintage to produce wines with a style somewhere between the 1990 and 1993 vintage. The whites from the "Côte de Blancs" are balanced with plenty of fruit, harmony and power. Low yields in the vineyards means that the wines are very ageworthly reminding us of the excellent 88?s . The wines have aromas of deep Chardonnay fruit whilst remaining fresh with nice buttery flavours.

Not at all bad. A useful vintage for early to mid-term drinking. An unprecedented change in the weather at the beginning of September with a very wet first week, meant that the harvest was difficult. The quality of the reds was uneven and at Maison Latour, to maintain our standards of high quality, Grand Crus and Premier Crus wines were declassified and blended into their respective village appellations. The wines are perfumed and charming with soft tannins that have a correct balance between acidity and alcohol. They offer quality drinking and are developing well. The quality of the whites is much higher in general, as the Chardonnay is more resistant to unfavourable weather conditions. The wines are stylish with good balance between acidity, body and fruit. The overall quality is good, with a few wines of exceptional quality amongst the Grands Crus.

In 1993, an early flowering in the month of June, was followed by a wet early July before a hot dry August. The reds of 1993 are outstanding. They are powerful and concentrated with a firm backbone of ripe tannins. The whites although austere to begin with and slow to evolve have developed into magnificent well structured, powerful wines. A vintage that produced wines built for ageing.

Unlike many other French wine regions, which experienced torrid weather conditions in 1992, Burgundy reaped the fruit of a near perfect year. The reds offer good easy drinking with rich red fruit aromas and abundant fleshy palates. The whites are still excellent with ripe fruit and aromatic complexity, full of elegance and finesse.

A somewhat forgotten vintage, 1991 was a little lost between the sensational 1990?s and the elegant 1992?s. However, a look at the vintage will prove rewarding. The reds have proved to be much better than expected and offer excellent present drinking. Soft Pinot fruit with mellow flavours that show wonderful grace and finesse. The white wines despite lacking the reputation of more renowned vintages are excellent examples of their appellations. Many display a clean, crisp, fresh quality but should be drunk up.

This is probably the vintage of reference for many people in Burgundy and certainly is for us at Louis Latour. Exceptional climatic conditions allowed an abundant crop to mature perfectly and yield some most sensational wines in both red and white. The white wines have maintained their elegant aromas and freshness which has made them even more appealing, whilst the reds are concentrated and well built with tannins which remain firm but smooth. To be enjoyed for many years to come.

Weather conditions were exceptional which led to a notably early harvest with perfectly ripened grapes in both colours. The reds with their velvety tannins have a fine colour, showing softer more elegant tendencies than the 88?s. They make a wonderful choice to drink on a special occasion. The whites in general were very precocious; ripe, powerful, rich, generous and well rounded; most should already have been drunk but the Grand Crus are superb for drinking now and over the next few years.

Good summer weather meant an early harvest of excellent quality for the reds. Rich and well structured, these wines which were a little rough in their youth today offer a wonderful opportunity to drink quality mature Pinot Noir, the best will continue to improve. The great whites can be put in the same category as the reds : full, round, well balanced and are very good to drink now.