The Alchemy of Elegance: Louis Latour’s 2019 Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru and the Whisper of Divine Terroir
Introduction: Setting the Scene
Puligny-Montrachet—a name that lingers on the tongue with the same reverence as a whispered secret. I first encountered the 2019 Louis Latour Premier Cru Sous le Puits while seated beneath a vine-draped pergola, where mortals dared not interrupt my musings. This vineyard, perched high in the Puligny hills, offers its vines a celestial view, kissed by breezes as old as time.
The 2019 vintage came from a year of oscillating tempests and tranquility, a perfect storm that gifted us a wine of beguiling contrasts. As a goddess of dreams and poetry, I found it irresistible—its reputation as nuanced and ethereal as one of my stanzas.
First Sip: Initial Impressions
The glass before me shimmered with a hue as radiant as a dawn-lit wheat field—a pale gold touched with fleeting silver. Bringing it to my nose, I was greeted by an orchestra of aromas: delicate white peach, lemon blossom, and the faintest whisper of wet stones after a summer rain.
But it was the undercurrent of hazelnut and fresh-baked brioche that spoke of something deeper—a story of the vineyard’s patience and grace. As if the soil itself had confided its memoirs to this wine.
Mid-Palate: Complexity Unfolded
On the palate, it danced like a muse in a moonlit glade. The initial notes were a burst of ripe orchard fruits—pear, mirabelle plum—layered with a suggestion of citrus zest, keeping it bright and alive. The mid-palate revealed its spine: a mineral tension that was neither harsh nor fleeting but as steady and grounding as the roots of the vines themselves.
There was a creamy richness to the texture, a subtle nod to oak, but it never overstepped—more a delicate caress than a firm embrace. Its acidity, sharp and clarifying, cut through the richness with the precision of a poet’s quill.
Finish: The Afterglow
The finish lingered like a wistful memory, a delicate interplay of honeyed almonds and a saline minerality that beckoned another sip. It left behind a trace of citrus oils, as though the sun had left its autograph on the palate. Long, luxurious, and contemplative—this was no ordinary goodbye. This was the kind of farewell that inspired epics.
Pairing Suggestions: Divine Matches
This wine is a whisper, not a shout, and it deserves culinary companions that speak its language. Pair it with butter-poached lobster or a silky mushroom risotto with shaved truffle. For those seeking simplicity, a wheel of aged Comté or fresh oysters would harmonize beautifully. Better yet, enjoy it with nothing more than a quiet sunset, letting its poetry unfold uninterrupted.
Verdict: A God’s Blessing or Curse?
Blessing, of course. The 2019 Louis Latour Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Sous le Puits is a hymn to balance and elegance, a wine that demands contemplation yet offers instant gratification. It is neither ostentatious nor timid—it occupies a realm of quiet power that mere mortals rarely achieve.
Mythical Comparison
If this wine were a mythological figure, it would be the goddess Hestia, the quiet keeper of the hearth. Understated but indispensable, it radiates warmth and subtle strength, bringing harmony to every gathering without demanding the spotlight.
Closing Line:
Have you tasted this golden hymn from Puligny’s heights? Share your thoughts—poetic or otherwise—below, and let’s see if mortals can match a goddess’s palate.
