CHATEAU DE LA TOUR Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles-Vignes - Cote de Nuits 2016 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
The 2016 Clos de Vougeot is an exquisite wine, scoring 94 points from Vinous. Antonio Galloni describes it as having a stunning burst of sweet red berry and floral notes that make a strong opening statement. It's delicate and lithe on the palate, embodying the essence of sensual Burgundy. Clean mineral notes lend vibrancy throughout, enhancing the overall experience. While it's enjoyable now, cellaring for a few years will allow the bright acids to mellow. Jancis Robinson rates it 16.5 points, highlighting its more herbal and peppery complexities alongside sweet oak aromas. This wine is firm, dry, and elegant, suggesting it needs additional time to reach its full potential.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Chateau de la Tour Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2016 is a powerful and noble expression of this storied Burgundian site, marrying primary red and black fruit with serious structural depth and vineyard driven minerality. The colour is a deep ruby with a clear core and a slight garnet edge, indicating both concentration and the beginning of tertiary development. The nose opens with ripe Morello cherry, black cherry and redcurrant, soon revealing darker tones of bramble and black plum. Floral violet and crushed rose petal add perfume while more savoury notes of sous bois, game and underbrush develop with airing, joined by a fine graphite and crushed stone mineral thread that speaks of Clos de Vougeot’s limestone and clay soils.

On the palate the wine is full bodied for Burgundy yet retains a refined silkiness, the texture supported by firm, finely grained tannins that give backbone without harshness. Primary fruit is dense and layered—ripe cherry, cassis and plum—then evolves into savoury complexities of olive tapenade, cured meat and a hint of soy reduction. Oak influence is judicious, contributing clove, toast and a discreet vanilla cushion that frames rather than dominates. Acidity is lively enough to provide freshness and drive, allowing the flavours to travel to a long, stony finish where tertiary notes of leather, truffle and dried herb linger.

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy combined favourable growing conditions with moderate yields, producing wines of ripe fruit concentration balanced by good acidity and fine tannic structure; here that translates into a Clos de Vougeot that is generous now yet built for medium to long term evolution. Approachable with careful decanting, the 2016 will reward patient cellaring as tertiary layers integrate and the tannins soften. Drink 2026 to 2042, peaking 2028 to 2036. Serve with roast duck, beef en croute, venison, porcini risotto or mature cheeses to complement the wine’s rich fruit, savoury depth and structural elegance.

VINOUS 94 points
Drinking Window 2026 - 2046
From: Vinous Lockdown Special (Oct 2020)
The 2016 Clos de Vougeot is an exquisite wine. A burst of sweet red berry and floral notes make a strong opening statement. Delicate and lithe on the palate, the 2016 is such a sensual Burgundy. Clean mineral notes lend vibrancy throughout. I would prefer to cellar the 2016 for at least a few years to let the bright acids mellow a touch, but opening a bottle now is far from a crime. - By Antonio Galloni on September 2020

JANCIS ROBINSON 16.5 points
Mid crimson. Scented with red fruit like the Cuvée Classique but more obviously herbal, peppery and complex, some sweet oak aroma too. This is firm and dry and elegant rather than generous. Needs a good bit more time. (JH)

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ABOUT CHATEAU DE LA TOUR
Château de la Tour in Gevrey Chambertin is a respected Burgundy estate known for concentrated, terroir driven expressions of Pinot Noir that reflect the muscular yet refined character associated with the commune. The property occupies parcels on the Cote de Nuits slope where well drained limestone and clay soils, varied exposure and cool continental climate favour slow phenolic ripening and the development of complex aromatic layers. Vineyard parcels range from village to premier cru calibre sites, and vine age varies, with older plantings contributing depth and younger vines providing freshness and precision.

The estate remains family owned and managed, with successive generations responsible for day to day decisions in both the vineyard and the cellar. Family stewardship has allowed a long term perspective on replanting, clonal selection and soil care, and the owners have overseen targeted investment in both viticulture and winemaking equipment while maintaining respect for traditional Burgundian practices.

Viticultural practice at Château de la Tour focuses on low yields, careful canopy work and selective hand harvesting to secure balanced ripeness and healthy phenolic maturity. Soil management, cover cropping and attention to rootstock and clone selection are used to protect vine vigour and to express subtle differences between parcels. Harvest timing is determined parcel by parcel to capture the optimal balance of acidity, aromatic lift and tannic ripeness.

Winemaking is led by an in house winemaker supported by a small cellar team. The approach favours small batch vinification with meticulous sorting, gentle extraction and temperature control to preserve primary fruit and to highlight site identity. Elevage is tailored to each cuvee, typically using French oak barrels of varying age to add structure and texture while avoiding undue oak influence. The resulting wines often show red and black cherry, underbrush, spice and an iron minerality, framed by fine tannin and carrying substantial ageing potential. Through consistent family stewardship and careful cellar craft, Château de la Tour continues to represent a distinctive voice in Gevrey Chambertin.