Stop and Smell the Burgundy Pinot Noir

I ordered the Louis Latour Beaune 2002 1er Cru from Bin Ends Wine mainly because it was a half bottle and I knew we could knock it back in one night (open bottles are a problem in this house). We let it decant for about 45 minutes before tasting. The nose started off with pretty typical cherry and garrigue Rhône-type aromas which quickly evolved into more full-bodied fruit and spice. The nose on this wine is completely absorbing. As I pondered the depth of aromas, I found myself asking "can a wine smell slow?"

As the nose evolves, so do the dynamic flavors. First, comes cherry and cigar followed by this blueberry-menthe-sparkle taste sensation with a mild tobacco finish. Meanwhile, the next thing on the nose is tons of mellow licorice and wood. Then vanilla. This Pinot cycles through all these flavors then back to cherry--canned cherry to be precise. While the flavors are very definite, they are not heavy. This wine manages to be both pronounced and ethereal at the same time.

This is easily the best Pinot Noir we've ever had. I'm now in a bit of trouble for only buying one 375 mL bottle.

Louis Latour Beaune 1er Cru

Vignes Franches (Pinot Noir)
Appellation Beaune - Côte-d'Or
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $13.75 (375 mL)
Aromas: Cherry, cassis, garrigue, tobacco, licorice, vanilla, wood
Flavors: Cherry, blueberry, cigar, vanilla, mint

Pairings: Blues, Flamenco, anything with acoustic guitar