2023 Henri Latour Et Fils Auxey-Duresses Vieilles Vignes Burgundy 12pk 12x750ml

Domaine Henri Latour is a 15-hectare estate in Auxey-Duresses, owned and managed by brothers Francois and Sylvain Latour — the 7th generation of growers at this address. The village sits southwest and uphill from Volnay, a savvy buy for Pinot Noir lovers who know that Burgundy's slopes don't respect appellation lines.

This Vieilles Vignes bottling comes from 50- to 70-year-old vines planted across the slope — some sources cite the parcel at 86 years old. Either way, old wood, deep roots, and the kind of fruit concentration that makes a $40 wine drink like something twice the price. The parcel benefits from South/Southeast exposure, and the soil is rich in clay, giving the wine more softness than you'd expect from a village bottling.

The fruit is hand harvested, sorted once in the vineyards and again at the winery via sorting table. The grapes are destemmed, then spend about 12 months in oak barrels, 20% new — restrained enough to let the fruit speak. The Latours limit oak to 25% across the domaine, a deliberate choice that keeps the wines expressive rather than buried.

The 2023 vintage is a historic 96-point year — one of the finest in a generation. The nose is very enticing: fresh bright red berries, bing cherry, wild strawberry. On the palate, it's rich yet fresh, with beautiful acidity and a very persistent, long finish. Drink 2026–30, or pull the cork tonight if you can't wait — it's already showing beautifully.