This bottle of L Latour's 1976 Corton-Charlemagne has been stored properly by me since shortly after release. Latour's Corton-Charlemagne can be quite slow to mature and can last about as well as a red Burgundy when conditions are correct. Some wines from the very hot year of 1976 lacked acid and did not last so well, but this wine has plenty of acid. The wine is about as big as a Chardonnay gets in Burgundy, but fortunately it has very good balance. It is very full, has mineral and considerable citrus and other fruit character, and a bit of oak. It has a very long finish, and a somewhat creamy texture. The color is fairly light lemon with no hint of brown. I detect no oxidation. There will be no advantage in keeping this wine, but it is likely to hold well at least a few more years.
TN Corton-Charlemagne 1976 Louis Latour
Dec 12, 2005
4 Replies
I would have *loved* to have tasted that wine! It sounds like what I'd like my Chardonnays to achieve.
Unfortunately, most California Chardonnays don't last much more than ten to fifteen years. I've tasted exceptions to that, but they are uncommon. One of the problems is that they are so delicious in their youth that they tend to be consumed early and nobody bothers to cellar them! I must confess to having done so with my 1996, 1997 and 1998 Chardonnays. :^/
I've become more restrained since then. I have almost a case of 1999 and
2000 left, as well as more than a case of 2001. I don't know how much of this will survive the holidays. Come and visit and we'll assess the situation. ;^)Tom S
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Aww Tom. Us consumers count on you guys to put at _least_ a few cases down from each vintage. Think of the Ch. Burbank library in
2030! Are there no limestone caves in Burbank?? :)] I've become more restrained since then. I have almost a case of 1999 and ] 2000 left, as well as more than a case of 2001. I don't know how much of ] this will survive the holidays. Come and visit and we'll assess the ] situation. ;^) ]
Now, will that help the situation in 2030? :)
The C-C sounds lovely, thanks for the note from the OP. I'm a big fan of old white burgundy. (and old white Chateauneuf, and old white Chenin, and old white Graves... hmm, a trend.)
-E
I finally got to taste your wine.
Lots of deeply ripe concentrated matter with a good oak presence, could have waited another couple of years and the oak would have been more balanced, however you obviously use top quality grapes and the chardonnay character shone through, more like Macon than Cote d'Or if I must make a comparison, and more like Macon than California, meaning none of that excessive diacetyl, my friends really enjoyed it and so did I. Congratulations and thank you Tom.
Thanks, Mike! Glad you enjoyed. IIRC you got the 2002 - correct?
Tom S
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