2022 Louis Latour Ile des Vergelesses Premier Cru Pernand-Vergelesses 750 ml

Pernand-Vergelesses sits just around the shoulder of the Hill of Corton, tucked behind the Grand Crus that command far higher prices and far more attention. That obscurity is exactly what makes it one of the best hunting grounds in Burgundy—especially when you're looking for Premier Cru Pinot Noir that tastes even better than the label says it is.

Of all the Premier Crus in the village, Île des Vergelesses has the best reputation. Its name comes from its geography: the vineyard is flanked on both sides by roads, giving it the look of an island rising from the hillside. It sits relatively high on the slope with a northeasterly exposure that slows ripening just enough to build complexity and keep acidity alive. The soil is clay and iron-rich, which shows in the wine—there's a savory, earthy undercurrent that adds depth you don't always find at this price level.

Louis Latour has been farming this vineyard, along with some of the most prized Grand Cru land in Burgundy, since before Napoleon was a problem. The house was founded in 1797, with family roots in the Côte de Beaune going back to 1731—and they remain one of the largest holders of Grand Cru vineyards in the entire region. What makes them truly unusual: they are the only négociant in Burgundy that still makes its own barrels. The Île des Vergelesses spends 10 to 12 months in French oak from Louis Latour's own cooperage, with 25% new wood.

The 2022 vintage produced beautiful Pinot Noir across the Côte de Beaune. A warm, generous growing season—a marked contrast to the challenging 2021—resulted in wines that are perfumed and silky, with ripe red fruit, elegant structure, and more than enough freshness to age gracefully. Some observers noted that the Côte de Beaune's reds may have outperformed the Côte de Nuits in this vintage.

In the glass: wild strawberry, red cherry, and cranberry on the nose, lifted by floral notes and hints of orange peel and crushed stone. On the palate, it's finely detailed and energetic—pure red fruit over silky tannins, bright acidity giving the wine lift and precision, and a savory mineral thread that runs through the long finish.