Louis Latour, Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2001

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Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani

Potentially the finest Corton-Charlemagne Louis Latour has fashioned in years, certainly since the 1995, the 2001 bursts from the glass with oak-laced spices and minerals. There is great depth and density to its layered, powerful core. Loads of minerals and gravel interplay with pears in its satin-textured, focused personality. What will determine this wine's future is the juicy lemon notes that it revealed in its exceptionally long finish. If they remain in the background my score will ultimately seem conservative. Projected maturity: 2004-2012. Maison Louis Latour appears to have faired significantly better than many of its fellow negociants in 2001. "We are very surprised, these were hugely acidic prior to malolactic fermentation but really good afterwards," said Jean-Pierre Jobard, Latour's winemaker. His boss, this firm's director, Louis-Fabrice Latour, added that "we've come to love the 2001 whites with time, they keep improving during elevage and we find that there is, in this vintage, a large step in quality between the village AOC wines and the premier crus." Maison Louis Latour has a different importer in each state.