2019 Louis Latour Vire-Clesse Les Champs Burgundy 750 ml

Louis-Fabrice Latour is a man who has limitless access to the finest Burgundy has to offer. Between what he makes at his family's winery—the historic, lauded Louis Latour—and his connections in Beaune, he could drink Grand Crus like Montrachet and Chambertin every night.

But we weren’t surprised when he told us that his everyday go-to was his Viré-Clessé Les Champs.

A rare bottling from one of the best areas in the Mâcon, it’s one of the top values in white Burgundy, but with one catch: Unlike their more widespread Viré-Clessé, it’s exceptionally hard to find—unless you’re a Wine Access member.

The Les Champs vineyard owes its existence to the monks of Cluny who cultivated vines in Viré-Clessé over 900 years ago. Because it sits just off of the beaten path, Louis-Fabrice explained, he had prime access to the best fruit these vines have to offer.   

Pulling up to a small, carefully manicured vineyard, he parked and pulled the cork on an unlabeled bottle of “Les Champs” that he’d brought along. He leaned up against a vineyard post and told us to walk the vines. We’ll never forget that moment—the wine was gorgeous.

The 2019 captures that same feeling, with aromas of ripe apples, seductive pears, and a melange of mineral tones. Once we took a sip—full of fresh acidity underpinning quince, apple, and crystalline mineral flavors—we were transported back to that vineyard in Burgundy.

Les Champs is a jewel of the region, and it’s why we try and offer this wine whenever we can. It’s been a few years—and yields are low in 2020 because of frost—so stock up like this won’t be around tomorrow.