2023 Louis Latour Puligny Montrachet, Burgundy

Notes of white currants, peaches, white flowers and freshly baked bread introduce Latour's 2023 Puligny-Montrachet Village, a medium-bodied, satiny and fleshy palate that's bright and chalky.

88-90 points The Wine Advocate

Few villages capture the precision and quiet confidence of great white Burgundy quite like Puligny Montrachet. Louis Latour, whose family roots in Burgundy date back to 1797, has long mastered the art of expressing Chardonnay with both richness and restraint. The 2023 vintage suits Puligny beautifully, delivering freshness, clarity and the chalky mineral character that has made the village one of the world’s great homes for Chardonnay.

Aromas of white currants, peach and white flowers drift from the glass alongside subtle notes of brioche, lemon cream and crushed oyster shell. The palate feels silky yet focused, with layers of ripe citrus, nectarine and pear carried by bright acidity and a fine thread of limestone minerality. There is lovely generosity to the fruit, though the wine never loses its tension or elegance. Gentle oak influence adds texture and warmth rather than overt richness, allowing the vineyard character to remain front and centre through a long, saline finish.

This is a superb match for seafood. Grilled lobster with beurre blanc, seared scallops or fresh crab with herbs and lemon would all shine beside it. It would also be excellent with roast chicken, creamy risotto with prawns or flaky white fish straight from the barbecue. Over the course of an evening the wine slowly reveals more savoury complexity and nutty detail, making it the sort of bottle that quietly steals everyone’s attention at the table.