2016 Louis Latour Clos Vougeot Grand Cru Burgundy 750 ml

Louis-Fabrice Latour was more than an icon in the world of wine—he was a generous friend whose wines have never failed to delight Wine Access members. He passed away in September, and we chose to honor him by including a spectacular bottle from his family’s 200-year-old winery in our last club shipment of the year.

A member of the 11th generation of the Latour family, Louis-Fabrice guided us through his family home on our last visit. He pointed out photos and newspaper clippings about the estate, some of which date back to the mid-1900s. The Latours have a legacy few Burgundy producers can match, having owned land in the Côte d’Or for over three centuries and been family-run the entire time.

The family’s long history in Burgundy has given them unparalleled expertise in the cellar and unmatched access to prime vineyard land—and that includes rows in the prized Clos Vougeot. 

Called “Pinot Noir’s Grand Stage” by Wine Spectator, Clos Vougeot (or Clos de Vougeot) is one of Burgundy's most coveted Grand Cru vineyards. The Cistercian monks of Citeaux cultivated vines there as far back as 1110 and built a winery with four oak presses and a cellar that could hold 2,000 barrels of wine. It’s rumored that bottles from the vineyard’s best plots were once gifted to kings and popes.

The Clos Vougeot Grand Cru covers more than 52 hectares, which are divided among more than 80 owners. In the superb but seriously low-yielding 2016 vintage, Louis Latour translated their holdings into a beautiful Burgundy with richness, texture, and earthy complexity. It’s a tribute to Louis-Fabrice’s legacy, and a bottle that will enrich any collection.