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London Wine Fair : Beyond the Côte d'Or
02 May 2017Stand B22
The Côte d’Or is the undisputed home of Pinot Noir and while, of course, here at Louis Latour Agencies we are a huge champion of them; that doesn’t mean to say the rest of the world should be overlooked. There are some excellent wines beyond the Côte d’Or and they can be at a more reasonable price point. Here are 6 of our favourites.
Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir
The late Louis Latour, recognising the demand for an affordable pinot noir, took the decision to plant in the hills of the Var region. The altitude and winds cool down an area previously thought to be too warm for Pinot Noir. The Latour family began as vine growers in the village of Aloxe-Corton as early as 1760s and went on to establish today's business, Maison Louis Latour, in 1797. Today they are one of the region's most famous names, creating wines from their own 50 hectare domaine in the Côte d'Or and from grapes and wines purchased through the negociant arm of the business. The company has been in family ownership for 11 generations and is now led by the seventh person to take the name Louis Latour.
Louis Latour Les Pièrres Dorées Pinot Noir
The present Louis-Fabrice Latour has again recognised a need for a consistent and affordable Pinot Noir. Burgundy is prone to weather issues and so consistency can be hard to find. He decided to plant some experimental vines in the south of Burgundy where the soil is similar to the Cote d’Or but the soil is unsuitable for Gamay; it has too much limestone. 2015 is the first vintage of this wine and was produced in small quantities so there is a limit to availability until the 2016 vintage where production was larger. Les Pièrres Dorées is riper than Bourgogne Pinot Noir but also has more acidity.
Simonnet-Febvre Côte d'Auxerre Pinot Noir
Maison Simonnet-Febvre produces and vinifies wines from the historic Yonne vineyards. These vineyards were destroyed when the phylloxera crisis hit the area in the 19th century. It has progressively been replanted and has today regained its prestige. Bourgogne Côtes d'Auxerre is planted on the top of slopes with Southerly / South-Easterly exposures. It is then fermented in stainless steel and matured for 12 months in stainless steel tanks. The wine is very aromatic, dominated by cherries and raspberries. The wine is fresh and round with discreet tannins.
Made from certified organic fruit from Seresin Estate vineyards, MOMO seeks to express the true nature of Marlborough Pinot Noir. The grapes are hand-picked and whole bunch-pressed before being naturally fermented with wild yeast in old French oak barriques. The wine remains on lees in barrel for 12 months before being blended and lightly filtered before bottling. The nose demonstrates earthy, herbal and dark fruit characters with hints of undergrowth. The focused palate is concentrated with succulent dark fruits and fine mouth-coating tannins.
The Secret range of wines has a closely guarded secret related to land, proportions, and balance. The result is a line of blended wines made with a primary varietal component that is recognized and indicated on the label complemented by a closely guarded secret blend of up to 15% in each of these. The grapes come from a vineyard near the town of Casablanca, approximately 20 kilometers from the sea.
The vineyard rests in the sub-region of Auburn, stretching through to the Watervale border. And with a vantage point some 350 metres above sea level, the area enjoys a ‘Mediterranean’ climate. This is characterised by a large diurnal temperature range with warm days, where the vines can bask in the sunlight; and cold nights, which allow them to rest and recuperate – essential for retaining their intensity of flavour.
On tasting
Tuesday 9.30am – 12.00pm | Wednesday 9.30am – 12.00pm
Don’t forget to join us in the last half an hour of the day for a Frapin cocktail and a demonstration of how using dry or hot chais during maturation can impact cognac.