2006 Meursault Genevrieres Cuvee des Pierres
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Tasting notes
Representing three barrels from their oldest vines, Latour-Giraud's 2006 Meursault Genevrieres Cuvee des Pierres mingles bright fresh lemon, brown spices, lanolin and vanilla from barrel, and nut oils in the nose. Rich and creamy on the palate, with strong toasted nut character segueing into toasty oak - though by no means lacking in the sort of diverse mineral shadings that caught one's attention in the -regular- bottling - this formidably concentrated Meursault finishes with a rush of citrus, nuts, and stones that generates just a hint of heat. Jean-Pierre Latour was one of those growers who got a jump on the 2006 ban de vendange in an effort to preserve freshness and clarity of fruit (although on that score, he professes to prefer his 2005s). The 2006 collection was slow to ferment and to undergo malo-lactic transformation; and from tank immediately before bottling, many wines struck me as somewhat disjointed and/or awkwardly marked by milk and new wood. Various importers, including Bayfield Importing, Long Island, NY (718)482 0200; Classic Wine Imports, Norwood, MA, tel. (781) 352 1100; and Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998 0029
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright, pale color. Musky orange, nut oil and charred oak on the explosive nose. Penetrating on entry, then juicy and concentrated in the middle palate, with terrific energy to the complex flavors of orange, lemon, hazelnut, flowers and stone. Amazingly light on its feet for such a ripe wine thanks to its sheer lift. Really stains the palate and dances on the aftertaste. Latour believes that this can be enjoyed before the more austere, higher-acid 2005, but I think this will be the more satisfying drink.
(just three new barrels of this juice) Sexy aromas of hazelnut, spices and toasty oak. Superripe, chewy and dense, with terrific depth to the musky hazelnut and primary citrus flavors. Here one can really taste the grapes. Finishes with palate-staining length and superb aromatic persistence.