Product Profile

Domaine Francois Labet Bourgogne Rouge Vieilles Vignes 2009

Medium Bodied, Dry, Red, Pinot Noir, Drink now or cellar, 12.5% alc.

Bottle: $26.95 per bottle
Six Pack: $161.70
Dozen: $323.40


Tasting Notes


This is a wine that is punching well above its weight. Really plump, lush and silky. It's medium bodied but with a chewy core and plenty of complex fruit. There's also something quite traditional here: savoury rather than overtly sweet and with an inky depth that you get from wines that have had a good cold soak. The length is superb for a wine of this level. It will blossom over the coming months gaining texture and fruit sweetness. For a Bourgogne at this price level it has a ridiculous pedigree. It's infused with François Labet's kid-glove approach to viticulture and winemaking. The wine comes from organically managed vineyards with vines over 40 years of age (hence Vieilles Vignes) in and around Chorey lès Beaune. The fruit was hand harvested and then sorted. It was vinified at Château de La Tour so Labet had total control. The juice received a cold soak for a week with 50% whole bunches retained. Fermentation was in open topped fermenters (wild yeast only) before the wine was aged in barrels (10% new) for 12 months. It was bottled without filtration. Quite a remarkable story for a Burgundy at this price point and the wine in the bottle backs it up. Bottled under Stelvin (screwcap) closure.


Producer


Domaine Francois Labet

Domaine Francois Labet

François Labet has been responsible for both the Domaine du Château de la Tour in Vougeot and Domaine Pierre Labet since 1984. The Labet family come from Beaune – for at least the last 500 years anyway – indeed François’ grandfather was onetime mayor of Beaune. François cultivates his vineyards, whether they are in the Clos de Vougeot or the Beaune domaine in exactly the same way and in the same place – the cuverie is in the Clos de Vougeot. Since 1992 they are fully organic, and only copper and sulphur have been the allowed treatments. There are no clones, only a massale selection is used – mainly coming from their vineyard in Beaune – Coucherias.