Louis Latour : Clos de la Roche Grand cru 2016

Characteristics and tasting notes for Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 Louis Latour

Tasting

Colour

The colour reveals a deep, dark ruby hue, reflecting the concentration and richness of the raw material.

Nose

The bouquet reveals remarkable aromatic complexity, combining notes of fresh cherry with aromas of fresh almond. This multidimensional olfactory expression gains depth with aeration, gradually revealing nuances of liquorice and blackcurrant.

Palate

On the palate, this wine stands out for its breadth and generous structure. The silky tannins reveal harmonious integration and perfectly controlled phenolic maturity. The balance between fruity richness, underlying acidity and velvety texture is maintained through to a persistent finish, marked by notes of liquorice and blackcurrant. The superb minerality, characteristic of the limestone terroir of Clos de la Roche, brings tension and intensity to the whole.

Food and wine pairing

This Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 pairs perfectly with feathered or furred game, meats in sauce, and mature cheeses. Slow-cooked red meat dishes and hard cheeses with nutty notes find a natural resonance with the tannic structure and aromatic complexity of this wine.

Service and storage

The Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 is best enjoyed at a temperature of between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius. This wine has an ageing potential of around 10 to 15 years, allowing for a constant evolution of its aromatic profile and the progressive refinement of its tannic structure.

A Burgundy grand cru combining power with silky elegance

The estate

Officially founded in 1797, Maison Louis Latour remains a family-owned, independent producer based in Aloxe-Corton, in Burgundy. Now led by Florent Latour, who took over the helm of the company in 2022, and Eléonore Latour, promoted to managing director of the brand in 2026, the house manages 48 hectares of vineyards, including 27 hectares of grand cru, representing the largest concentration of grand cru vineyards in Burgundy. Maison Louis Latour is distinguished by its own cooperage, unique in Burgundy, and its commitment to sustainable viticulture, certified ISO 14001 since 2003. The house combines respect for Burgundian traditions with constant innovation, perpetuating expertise handed down for more than two centuries.

The vineyard

Clos de la Roche is one of the four grand crus of the village of Morey-Saint-Denis, located in the Côte de Nuits. This 16.9-hectare vineyard occupies a distinctive position at the northern edge of the village, in close proximity to Gevrey-Chambertin. The overall exposure is east-southeast, at an altitude of around 250 metres. The terroir is characterised by soils of complex composition, dominated by limestone, with a topsoil layer rarely exceeding 30 centimetres in depth. The presence of large rocky outcrops, which give the vineyard its name, along with calcareous-clay marl, encourages delayed ripening of the grapes while promoting acidity, thereby contributing to the remarkable complexity, depth and ageing potential of the wines. Grand cru status was officially recognised on 8 December 1936.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage in the Côte de Nuits produced deep wines revealing notes of black fruit accompanied by hints of violet and spice. The grapes, ripe but not overly concentrated, allowed for the creation of balanced, round and generous wines, endowed with fine structure and excellent ageing potential.

Winemaking and ageing

The winemaking process for the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2016 follows Maison Louis Latour's traditional protocols. The Pinot Noir grapes are harvested by hand, allowing for rigorous selection of the bunches. Fermentation takes place according to a traditional protocol in open vats, encouraging oxygenation and controlled interaction with the yeasts. Ageing takes place over 10 to 12 months in medium-toast French oak barrels, sourced exclusively from the house's own cooperage. The use of 100% new barrels for this grand cru allows for complete integration of the oak components and contributes to the wine's ultimate complexity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir