If you’re staying in a nice hotel, breakfast is always fun, you always bump into someone you know. Burgundy is such a small place and, despite exporting their much-fabled wines all over the world, the merchants and journalists who visit are all instantly recognisable.

One of the highlights of my trip is seeing Jean-Pierre Latour of Latour-Giraud. As you drive along the road from your hotel in Beaune to Meursault, you always look forward to seeing him. His manner never changes. As you pull into the domaine, you know that he’ll be there waiting to greet you, and the morning’s tasting will have been organised. Jean-Pierre belongs to a stable of winemakers who believe that manners maketh the man, timekeeping and courtesy are essential to him.

It’s always a great way to start the day, as the conversation is light and the details regarding harvesting and winemaking are always spellbinding. I always have a smile on my face at this address. The wines are always pinpoint, very focused, and delicious. His family have been producing wine here for centuries. Indeed, they are one of the largest landowners in Meursault.

He has always been a fan of selling every bottle he produces, so he keeps his pricing embarrassingly low. Compared to many others in the village, he could charge double if he wished, but he is of an age where he has seen the difficult times in Burgundy too, so the extraordinary price of wine and land is of no interest to him. He focuses on winemaking; hence the wines are so gorgeous. He prefers to sell out… and he does.

His wonderful domaine is located next to the famous Soufflot restaurant, where many great labels are available to drink at great value. If you are in Meursault, try Goutte d’Or too, a great, family-owned small restaurant. Great-value wine list, very friendly service, and fresh home-cooked food that’s well priced.

His Charmes and Genevrières are incredible. We opened some bottles of his 2022s recently at one of our tastings in Wimbledon, and they were off the charts. Still young, but full of flavour.

We are pleased to offer his 2023’s
Andrew Pavli

“Jean-Pierre has produced a fabulous range of classical white wines in 2023, truly typical of their terroirs.”
Jasper Morris MW

Read the tasting notes in our featured news article below…