2005 Louis Latour Pernand-Vergelesses Ile de Vergelesses 1er Cru Côte de Beaune Burgundy France. $27.99 at Beekmans, Glen Rock.
Clear red color, medium hue, lovely herbal and red fruit and berry aromas with hints of spice and earth, very good red fruit and spice tastes, undertones of earth, mushrooms and a pretty berry note -- gooseberry? -- very good acidity and tannins, in excellent balance, medium mouth feel, long interesting finish. Slight EGA. 4*.
A very pretty wine and dare I say an excellent QPR. I'm sure this wine will age very well indeed. Worked very well with roasted vegetables on a beautiful night -- the relatively young tannins and acidity were a perfect match.
Winery: http://www.louislatour.com/pages/index. ... &id_vin=92
Grape variety Pinot Noir; Soil Clay and iron
Tasting Note: Vegetable notes make their first appearance and are then enhanced by red berry aromas including black currant, gooseberry, and then dried prunes. A definite harmonious cellaring wine that will evolve divinely and should be enjoyed after four to five years. Tasted January 2007
Vinification: Open-vat traditional fermentation followed by 10 to 12 months ageing in Maison Louis Latour oak casks
Description: The vineyard of « Ile des Vergelesses » is relatively high up on the slope and enjoys a northeasterly exposure, which means that the fruit achieves maximum ripeness quite late on. The wine has a vermillion robe with a classic seudctive bouquet of raspberry and other berry fruits. On the palate it has a distinct taste of wild woodland fruits which take on a velvety, vegetal smoothness after time in bottle.
Beekman: Literally a stones throw from the Grand Cru vineyard of Corton Charlemagne (in fact part of this famous vineyard lies within the village), the vineyards of Pernand Vergelesses are barely off the beaten path and, in the best vintages, they offer exceptional value. As Hugh Johnson puts it, "If Savigny and Pernand are slightly in the background, it is only because the foreground is so imposing. The best growers of both make wines up to the highest Beaune standard." Along with Louis Jadot, Louis Latour is one of the best of the old time shippers.