2022 Louis Latour Vignes Franches Beaune 1er Cru, Burgundy

Here’s an extremely concentrated, delightfully sweet and elegant Beaune 1er cru that glides over your palate. Grand cru sophistication thanks to the fineness of the tannins and the way they interlock with the lively acidity. There’s the Amarena cherry character we associate with this site, but also a lovely brioche richness right through the long, silky finish. Drink or hold.

96 points James Suckling

Beaune often lives quietly in the shadow of its more famous neighbours, though insiders know the town’s Premier Cru vineyards can produce some of Burgundy’s most complete and satisfying Pinot Noir. Louis Latour has worked these slopes for generations, with the family’s roots in Burgundy stretching back to 1797. Vignes Franches is one of Beaune’s oldest named vineyards, prized for wines that combine generosity, perfume and a distinctly silky structure.

The 2022 vintage is beautifully open and expressive, offering layers of ripe cherry, wild strawberry and red plum wrapped around notes of rose petals, cinnamon and gentle earthy spice. There is a lovely brightness to the fruit thanks to the vintage’s freshness, while subtle oak brings hints of cedar and warm baking spice without dominating the wine. The texture is supple and flowing rather than heavy, with fine tannins and a savoury mineral thread carrying the finish long after the fruit fades.

This is the sort of Burgundy that feels equally at home at a relaxed lunch or a serious dinner table. Roast chicken with truffle butter would be superb, though it also works beautifully with duck pâté, mushroom tart or grilled pork cutlets with thyme and Dijon. As the wine opens in the glass, more floral and forest floor complexity emerges, making each sip a little more interesting than the last. Enjoy over the next decade, though a short decant now will already reveal plenty of charm.