Meursault Cuvee Charles Maxime
2020
The Latour-Giraud estate has been established in the village of Meursault for many generations. Focused primarily on Meursault, the estate owns an impressive range of Premier Cru and Villages vineyards between 20 and 50+ years old, such as the largest Premier Cru Genevrières vineyard in which two thirds of the vines are more than 50 years old. Latour-Giraud specializes in white burgundy, which accounts for 80% of their production. They own an impressive 2 ha within Mersault, and also have...
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(the 2014s were bottled in February and early March): Pale, bright yellow. Subtle, pure stone fruit aromas accented by treble notes of flowers and spices. Lovely sappy wine with tension and energy to its fruit-driven flavors of nectarine and peach. Finishes salty, dry and long. An outstanding village bottling.
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Here too there are touches of smoke and petrol to the more complex aromas of essence of pear, hazelnut and acacia blossom. There is better volume to the equally punchy and attractively textured medium weight flavors that culminate in a clean, dry and lingering finale. This could use better depth, but more will almost certainly develop given the probable maturation curve. This too is worth checking out.
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(from the Domaine founders of Charles Giraud and Maxime Latour – the fruit derives from multiple lieux-dits that include Les Corbins, Le Cromin, Les Chevalières, Les Crotots, Les Vireuils, Les Pelles, Le Limozin and Les Malpoiriers). Here too there is a whiff of matchstick character suffusing the more elegant aromas of acacia blossom, pear, apple and lemon peel nuances. There is once again excellent volume to the equally racy and punchy middle weight flavors that possess a beguiling texture and a subtle minerality on the delicious finale. This needs a bit more depth but that should develop if this is allowed a few years of bottle age before pulling a cork.
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Bright, light yellow-green. An aroma of lime blossom suggests a lean wine. Then supple in the mouth, with peach and mineral flavors complicated by a leesy nuance. A nicely balanced, slightly edgy midweight.
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from the Domaine founders of Charles Giraud and Maxime Latour – the fruit derives from 5 separate lieux-dits). Notes of matchstick and spice add breadth to the slightly riper aromas of acacia blossom and white orchard fruit. The round and appealingly textured medium-bodied flavors possess good mid-palate density as well as lovely depth on the lingering and well-balanced finale. This too would make for a slightly higher-end and ageworthy house white.
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Pale yellow-straw color. Aromas of stone fruits and vanilla. Nicely concentrated but a bit youthfully strict, showing more salty minerality than pear and apricot fruit flavors. Has good volume and richness but lacks subtlety and elegance--and not at all a fruity style for village wine.
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(from the Domaine founders of Charles Giraud and Maxime Latour – the fruit derives from 5 separate lieux-dits; note that in both 2012, it includes the Limozin and Bouchères, both of which are usually bottled separately). This is even more markedly reduced though the wood application is evident. There is good vibrancy and volume to the delicious and exceptionally rich middle weight flavors that also display a saline character on the balanced and lingering finish.
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Hazy appearance. Aromas and flavors of musky peach, lichee and white pepper. Ripe and pliant but without quite the tightness of grain of the 2014 version. This concentrated but easygoing village wine will offer early pleasure for its yellow stone fruit flavors.
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from the Domaine founders of Charles Giraud and Maxime Latour – the fruit derives from multiple lieux-dits that include Les Corbins, Le Cromin, Les Chevalières, Les Crotots, Les Vireuils, Les Pelles, Le Limozin and Les Malpoiriers). Here too there is a whiff of matchstick to the ripe aromas of pear, apple and hazelnut that are trimmed in just enough wood to notice. In the same fashion as the Bourgogne, there is a lavish richness to the medium-bodied flavors that also flash a hint of citrus zest on the clean and dry finish.
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Pale, bright yellow. Aromas of ripe stone fruits, lemon peel, anise and flowers. Densely packed but light on its feet, showing subtle salinity to its fresh fruit flavors. A distinctly pretty wine with lovely acid lift.
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(from the Domaine founders of Charles Giraud and Maxime Latour – the fruit derives from multiple lieux-dits that include Les Corbins, Le Cromin, Les Chevalières, Les Crotots, Les Vireuils, Les Pelles, Le Limozin and Les Malpoiriers; in 2021, blend also include 1er fruit from Bouchères, Perrières and Poruzots). This is aromatically similar to the Bourgogne but with more elegance as well as a suggestion of hazelnut. There is outstanding density to the powerful, palate saturating and stony medium-bodied flavors that conclude in a youthfully austere, balanced and beautifully long finale. This is excellent and a wine that should age accordingly.
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