Château de la Tour Grand Cru Clos Vougeot Cuvée Classique 2021

The Cuvée Classique is drawn predominantly from the domaine’s vines situated mid-slope in the Clos de Vougeot, and from some plots on the lower and upper parts. There are six parcels in total, including the lieux-dits of Montiottes Basses and Quartier Marei Bas (also home to the 1910-planted Vieilles Vignes parcel). The smallest holdings are those in the Quatorze-Journaux and Baudes-Saint-Martin—two parcels at the bottom of the slope which sandwich Etienne Grivot’s vines. La Plante L’Abbé is at the top of the Clos, near the château and the Grands-Échezeaux border. All these sites are now pushing an average 70 years of age and have been managed organically for well over 20 years. So Vieilles Vignes by any other name!

As for all the reds here, this was fermented with roughly 50% bunches in old concrete vats. It was then aged in barrels which were fashioned, according to the season, by renowned Burgundian cooper Stéphane Chassin. The percentage of new oak for this wine currently hovers between 30% and 50%. Like all Labet’s Château de la Tour wines, this was bottled unfiltered.