Louis Latour Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne

Description

Louis Latour Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne is one of Louis Latour’s many Premier Cru-rated Puligny-Montrachets. 

The Latour family has a long and distinguished history in Burgundy’s wine trade. Their roots go back to 1768 when they began as vine growers in Aloxe-Corton. In 1797, they established Maison Louis Latour, the company that continues today. Today they are one of the region’s most famous and prestigious Burgundian wine producers. Latour produce wines wines from both their own vineyards and from grapes purchased through their negociant arm.

Remarkably, the company has remained in family ownership for twelve generations. The newest member to join the business is Eléonore Latour, the 12th generation’s representative and the first Latour woman in the family to work for the company. She is ably supported by her uncle Florent Latour, chief winemaker Jean Charles Thomas, and Denis Fetzmann and Boris Champy who manage the Domaine.

Puligny-Montrachet, the geographical middle ground of the white wine villages, boasts 216 hectares. It borders Meursault to the north and Chassagne-Montrachet to the south, sharing with the latter five of Burgundy’s six white Grands Crus. The La Garenne vineyard sits just above the Champgains vineyard, benefiting from ideal south-easterly exposure and planted on marl and limestone soils.

The 100% Chardonnay grapes for the Louis Latour Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne come from a vineyard with an average of 35 year old vines. The soils are limestone and scree. After a hand harvest the grapes are vinified in the traditional Burgundian manner in oak barrels with complete malolactic fermentation. The wine is matured for 8 to 10 months ageing in medium-toasted French oak barrels, 50% new, from Louis Latour’s own cooperage.

In ancient french ‘La Garenne’ means a wood surrounded by walls reserved for the lord of the manor, for the hunting of small game, in particular rabbit (the origin of the expression ‘lapin de garenne’).