96-Points by James Suckling.
Here’s an extremely concentrated, delightfully sweet and elegant Beaune 1er cru that glides over your palate. Grand cru sophistication thanks to the fineness of the tannins and the way they interlock with the lively acidity. There’s the Amarena cherry character we associate with this site, but also a lovely brioche richness right through the long, silky finish.
 
Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Beaune Vignes Franches Premier Cru has a deep ruby color. Its nose offers aromas of raspberry and blackberry, while its palate is ample and suave, revealing notes of blackberry again and licorice. This wine offers good length and a fresh finish.
 
Description
Historically the owners of this area did not have to pay tax on the land, hence the name 'Vignes Franches' ('free vines'). The Beaune Premier Cru "Vignes Franches" parcel, important part of Domaine Louis Latour, is found mid-slope. The clay soils are scattered with small pebbles which allows for easy drainage of water. Here we find the same opulence as in neighbouring Pommard, as well as an extremely pleasant fruit-forwardness even when young. It is one of the best Premier Cru vineyards of Beaune, producing a wine that is capable of ageing to perfection for a considerable period of time.
 
Vinification & Ageing
Fermentation
Traditional in open vats
Ageing
10 to 12 months ageing in oak barrels, 25% new
Barrels
Louis Latour cooperage, French oak, medium toasted
 
The Vine
Average vine age 35 years
Soil: Clay and limestone
Average yield: 40 hl/ha
Harvest: Hand picked
 
Established in 1797, the company today continues to be family owned and operated. The domaine has the largest grand cru vineyard holdings of any producer in Burgundy.
Maison Louis Latour is one of the most highly-respected négociant-éléveurs in Burgundy. Maison Louis Latour is the producer of some of the finest Burgundian wines but has also pioneered the production of fine wines from outside Burgundy's confines. These wines from the Ardèche and the Côteaux de Verdon are slowly gaining esteem for their unmatchable quality outside Burgundy.
All the grapes from the vineyards owned by the Latour family are vinified and aged in the attractive cuverie of Chateau Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still functioning. A unique railway system with elevators allows the entire wine-making process to be achieved by the use of gravity. This eliminates the threat of oxidation from unnecessary pumping of the must. Since 1985, Louis Latour has been selling the wines of its own vineyards under the name Domaine Louis Latour.
Louis Latour has been a leader in environmentally responsible winemaking for over 15 years. Louis Latour has had ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management Systems since 2003 and has been part of the European association FARRE since 1998- a group of like-minded companies who seek to develop and promote sustainable methods of agriculture. 
Louis Latour is distributed to many countries across the world, and is one of the most easily recognized producers of Burgundy. In 1997, the company was admitted into the Hénokiens club which is exclusively for companies that remain family owned, have operated for over 200 years and still bear the name of the founder.