WINE OF THE WEEK - 2018 Louis Latour Marsannay

Hi Friends! It’s time for another Wine Wednesday pick, Wineitupanotch style!

This week, I walked back and forth to the liquor store on a beautiful, warm and sunny day and it really lifted my spirits! By the time I got to the store, I had dreamed up my next vacation, which will undoubtedly be France! When the world opens up again, I’ll be there for sure, ready to drink amazing wine, eat incredible food and soak in all the je ne sais quoi that I possibly can.

So, it’s probably no surprise that I went straight for the France section in the store to pick up this week’s Wine of the Week :) Further, the fact that I very quickly found myself zeroing in on the shelves lined with the incredible wines of Burgundy will probably also not be a huge surprise. When it comes to je ne sais quoi in French wine, Burgundy is the answer!

Aaaaah Burgundy, the land of great wine. Burgundy, or Bourgogne as the French say, is a complex and intriguing place. It is also incredibly difficult for the average wine lover to comprehend and understand when it comes to knowing how to read labels, understand who does what, and find wines that are of a high quality but will not blow your wallet out. Luckily, this week’s Wine of the Week pick is just the cure - a gorgeous wine, by a great producer, at a very affordable (relatively speaking ;)) price!

Intrigued? Perfect! Now, let’s get into this week’s pick!

(By the way, if you are new to this blog and want to know more about my this weekly feature, be sure to read this blog post where I outline my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks.)

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2018 Louis Latour Marsannay

This week’s wine is a beautiful Pinot Noir from the village of Marsannay. While this wine is not cheap by normal standards, it is definitely wallet-friendly when it comes to Burgundy reds, especially those that are of specific village classification and made by a well known, top notch producer. Read on to learn what you need to know about this wine!

What does this wine cost?

$41.95. This is a great value in my opinion.

Where does this wine come from?

This wine comes from the Cote D’Or of Burgundy, from a village called Marsannay. Marsannay is noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, it is the northern most appellation within Burgundy, and very close to the city of Dijon. Secondly, it is the only appellation in Burgundy that has permission to produce red, white and rose wine!

Of perhaps more importance of those that are interested in such particulars than to most regular wine drinkers or those that are just learning about Burgundy, Marsannay was only elevated to village status under the French AOC system in 1987 and it has no premier or grand cru, though some critics argue that certain areas of the village (known as lieu dits) deserve to have their status elevated.

Marsannay is not a village that is generally considered to produce great Burgundy and one might say that this is reflected in the price point of these wines. However, I believe that Marsannay offers potentially great value for the average consumer and a great entry point into this wonderful wine region.

If you’re interested, you can learn more about Marsannay here.

Who makes this wine?

This wine is produced by Louis Latour, one of the oldest and most reputable distributors and producers of wine in Burgundy. Their classic labeling is well recognized around the world and held by many as synonymous with innovation, a growth mindset and historical influence and importance. Louis Latour is, after eleven generations, still owned by the Latour family and is the largest holder of grand cru properties in Burgundy. The manage 48 hectares of vines and have a very impressive range of wines in their porfolio.

You can learn more about Louis Latour here.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - 100% Pinot Noir

Soil type - limestone and clay

Vinification - fermentation in open vats; aged for 10-12 months in stainless steel vats

Average Vine Age - 30 years; grapes were hand harvested (which is a sign of superior quality)

ABV - 13%

Residual Sugar - 3 g/L

My tasting notes:

A brilliant sparkling ruby in the glass, the colour of this wine is so deep that it is almost opaque. On the nose, the wine delivers a bouquet of red fruit, earth, spices and florals. On the palate, the wine is strong, with immediate notes of cherry, cranberry and pomegranate, with a bit of purple plum thrown in for good measure. There are also notes of cinnamon, clove and meat on the palate. The wine is silky but muscular, with ample acidity, firm tannins and a medium-ish finish. Overall, a very delicious wine at this price point.

Aging potential:

I think this wine could easily be aged for another 3-5 years and would like be better in another 1-2 years.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Given the muscular and firm nature of this wine, pair it with rich meat dishes for a win. For example, charred steak would be wonderful in my view. I personally had this wine with spicy Vietnamese chicken pho and I thought it made for a splendid pairing!

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 90 points

A very good wine at this price point!

If you’re located in Ontario, and wish to purchase this wine, you can find it at the LCBO under Product #279018.

FINAL VERDICT:

This is a really good entry point into Burgundy. I think this is a wine to be enjoyed with a nice meal, and perhaps even to be studied if you are interested in starting to learn about Burgundy. I liked it so much that I actually went back to the store to pick up a few more bottles for my own personal stash! :)

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

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