2015 Louis Latour Montagny La Chanfleure 750 ml

Capturing the Majesty of the Côte de Beaune

If the limestone-strewn vineyards of Meursault, Puligny- and Chassagne-Montrachet, and Corton-Charlemagne produce the most glorious Chardonnays in the world, even the merely good ones run $50+ per bottle. But if you’re looking to capture the majesty that is great Côte de Beaune Chardonnay — especially in the magnificent 2015 vintage — look no further than Montagny in the Côte Chalonnaise. These whites tend to be “fuller,” and more akin to the whites of the Côte de Beaune, according to Jancis Robinson in The World Atlas of Wine. Louis Latour, the largest holder of Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy, and one of its most storied producers “long ago discovered what good value” can be had from Montagny, says Robinson. The rich and vibrant 2015 Louis Latour Montagny “La Chanfleure” released at $32 by Maison Louis Latour — is now just $19.99 for as long as our limited allocation of this stunning vintage will last.

After 200+ years in the wine trade, the vineyard holdings of Maison Louis Latour are the stuff of legends. Grand Cru and Premier Cru lieux-dits in Corton-Charlemagne, Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, among others, have yielded gorgeously pure, high-scoring wines that have impressed every critic in the world. The top bottlings can age for decades, and collectors don’t bat an eye at triple-digit prices. But Louis-Fabrice Latour, the sixth-generation Latour to run his family’s business, is keen to offer quality on every level of the price spectrum. When he’s looking for the greatest value in Burgundy, Louis-Fabrice goes straight to the Côte Chalonnaise, specifically the east-facing, limestone slopes of Montagny.

Set almost equidistant between Meursault and Mâcon, the Côte Chalonnaise is a strip of land barely 15 miles long and just over 4 miles wide. The soils mimic the calcareous composition of Meursault, and share their signature balance of richness and minerality. In 2015, the Latour holdings in Montagny on the Côte Chalonnaise performed exceedingly well, resulting in a mouthwatering, mineral Chardonnay filled with ripe citrus, orange pith, and pear, finishing with refreshing vibrancy and persistence.