READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
Louis Latour: Using barrels for white Grands Crus
A Burgundy producer that owns vineyards on the Corton hill. Its representative white wine, Corton-Charlemagne, can be considered in terms of vineyard aspect for Chardonnay together with barrel fermentation and barrel aging.
Please present parcel orientation, malolactic fermentation, new oak rate and period separately as different pieces of information.
Questions for this course
Can you determine the white winemaking method by the vineyard name alone?
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To applied practice using the material ↓
To explanation task notes ↓Louis Latour / Learn from the producer
France / Burgundy / Corton Hill
Also known as / Label: Louis Latour / ルイ ラトゥール
Updated: 2026-10-07
Southeast-facing Chardonnay
According to the official description, Louis Latour's Corton-Charlemagne vineyard is located on the southeast-facing slope. The grape variety is Chardonnay. This orientation is from the producer's description of their vineyard and does not apply to all sites within the appellation.
Barrel fermentation and malolactic fermentation
The 2022 listed page describes fermentation in oak barrels and full malolactic fermentation. Information about barrel usage and about acid transformation involve different aspects. Not all white wines fermented in barrel use the same fermentation management.
Separate new barrel ratio and period
Aging description states 100% new barrels, for 8–10 months. These are French oak barrels from their own cooperage with medium toast. Do not judge intensity by new barrel percentage alone; also note the period and barrel details.
What to align and what to compare.
Vineyard
- Conditions to standardize
- Corton Hill
- Conditions for comparison.
- Plot orientation
- Additional points to confirm
- Do not generalize to the whole appellation
Process
- Conditions to standardize
- Same white wine
- Conditions for comparison.
- Barrel fermentation and malolactic fermentation
- Additional points to confirm
- Distinguish between vessel and process
Aging
- Conditions to standardize
- Oak barrel
- Conditions for comparison.
- Usage history, duration, level of toasting
- Additional points to confirm
- Scope of the 2022 listed documents
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Reading Louis Latour materials: Using barrels for white Grands Crus
Match comparison tables with cited sources and explain differences in raw materials and vinification process.
Comparison tables are based on the cited sources. Please distinguish between vintage-specific specifications and general descriptions at the time of confirmation.
| Comparison items | Source description/content | Subject being read/analyzed. |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast-facing | The company's own plots | Slope orientation. |
| Fully implemented | Malolactic fermentation | Fermentation management |
| 100% / 8-10 months | New barrel percentage / aging period | Vessel and time |
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What are the orientations of the company's vineyards as officially indicated?
According to the official description, Louis Latour's Corton-Charlemagne vineyard is located on the southeast-facing slope. The grape variety is Chardonnay. This orientation is from the producer's description of their vineyard and does not apply to all sites within the appellation.
Which step is described as being carried out fully?
The 2022 listed page describes fermentation in oak barrels and full malolactic fermentation. Information about barrel usage and about acid transformation involve different aspects. Not all white wines fermented in barrel use the same fermentation management.
What does 100% refer to?
Aging description states 100% new barrels, for 8–10 months. These are French oak barrels from their own cooperage with medium toast. Do not judge intensity by new barrel percentage alone; also note the period and barrel details.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Match comparison tables with cited sources and explain differences in raw materials and vinification process.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Source description/content | Subject being read/analyzed. |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast-facing | The company's own plots | Slope orientation. |
| Fully implemented | Malolactic fermentation | Fermentation management |
| 100% / 8-10 months | New barrel percentage / aging period | Vessel and time |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please present parcel orientation, malolactic fermentation, new oak rate and period separately as different pieces of information.
Check after writing
- Did you associate each label with its region and grape variety?
- Did you separate the shared and differing conditions in your comparison?
- Did you clearly indicate the year(s) the material covers or the date checked?
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