1997 Corton Charlemagne

Latour's Corton-Charlemagne is this negociant's flagship wine. The 1997's nose was rather unyielding on my visit to the firm's Chateau Grancey (in Aloxe-Corton) cellars. With aeration, it revealed huge ripeness in its poached white fruit and hazelnut aromatics. On the palate, it is broad, creamy, luscious, and hedonistic. This medium-to-full-bodied Corton's flavor profile is composed of sweet pears, candied/spiced apples, sugar-coated nuts, and hints of new oak. Moreover, it possesses a long, dense, and flavorful finish. Projected maturity: 2000-2007. Louis Latour is represented by a different importer in each state.