With nearly 25 acres of estate vines in Burgundy’s Corton-Charlemagne—almost one-third of the appellation—Louis Latour is an important producer of this grand cru Chardonnay, with its version being the one Americans are most likely to find in restaurants and at retail shops. The vines average 30 years of age. Harvested by hand, the grapes are pressed and fermented in 100 percent new French oak barrels. The wine ages eight to 10 months before racking, assembling and bottling. 2018 was a ripe vintage; the timing of the harvest was crucial to strike the right balance. Latour’s Corton-Charlemagne shows great tension and an underlying mineral component that lends energy and length.

Burgundy is a region in east-central France known for its wine, including namesake Pinot Noirs, Chablis and Beaujolais. The area is crisscrossed by a network of navigable canals and studded with grand châteaux, some of which, are now luxury hotels. The capital, Dijon, of mustard fame, is home to the imposing Palace of the Dukes, where the distinguished Musée des Beaux-Arts was established in 1787.