Description

Château de la Tour – the largest landowner in Clos de Vougeot and the only owner that produces their Clos Vougeot within the actual walls of the Clos. This family estate is currently in the hands of Pierre Labet’s son, François who took over in 1984 to continue the legacy dating as far back as 1815. Today, the estate is renowned for producing dense, powerful wines with the tannic structure that demanded—and supported—extended aging. Many of these bottles are thoroughly enjoyed with half-century-plus lifespans.

Château de la Tour’s Special Vieilles Vignes consist of a one-hectare parcel of vines planted in 1910 in the center of the Clos. The soil here is relatively deep, with about 90cm of topsoil overlying sedimentary deposits from the Oligocene era, over 23 million years ago. The Vieilles Vignes bottling benefits from the added intensity, as well as the subtlety of the old vines, not to mention their consistently low yields. While it typically has more of everything than the cuvée classique, including depth, structure, and potential longevity, it is also a more refined wine.

Tasting notes: Very dense purple with an extra level of fruit weight compared to the Classique. This does indeed absolutely swamp the palate. Covers the whole bunch and the tannins are dressed in this robe of succulent dark fruit. Just a spicy note or two right at the end to add complexity.