Domaine Larue, “Les Cortons" Saint-Aubin 1er Cru, Burgundy, France, 2020

Overview of the Wine
The Larue holdings are spread between the two villages of Saint-Aubin and Puligny-Montrachet. These holdings include seven premier crus, on south, southeast, and southwestern facing slopes, grown on variations of clay soils with a high concentration of limestone. The domaine's premier crus vineyard in Puligny-Montrachet, La Garenne, sits at a high altitude in the Hameau de Blagny, bordering Meursault. Their most prized vineyard, Saint-Aubin premier cru “Murgers des Dents de Chien,” shares its name with the Dents de Chien lieu-dit of Le Montrachet that is right around the corner and is capable of producing wine that can age and improve in the bottle for decades.

Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Saint Aubin, Burgundy, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Saint-Aubin, a picturesque village tucked between the hills of Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet, is the appellation of the future in Burgundy, and Didier Larue is its star producer. Even in the hottest recent vintages, he has known how to extract peppy acidity and wet-stone salinity from his Chardonnay. The 2018 Cortons flaunts expressive, nutty aromas, followed by a well-balanced combination of Saint-Aubin zing and a richness reminiscent of neighboring appellations.

Les Cortons is a Premier Cru climate of the Saint-Aubin appellation. Wines made from grapes grown within the climat, and which conform to Saint-Aubin Premier Cru production rules, may claim the Premier Cru title and append the climat name to that of the appellation on labels. Planted entirely to Chardonnay it produces an elegant wine with floral aromas complimented with notes of honey and toasted nuts. 

Saint-Aubin's Premier Cru vineyards are divided into two sections of those to the southwest of Gamay village, towards Saint-Aubin parish itself, and those to the southeast, on the famous Mont-Rachet hillside.

Les Cortons falls into the second of those categories, and thus benefits from the slightly increased altitude of the western slopes of the Mont-Rachet and the well-drained limestone soils that characterize the terrior of the Cote d'Or. The climat is just over four hectares (10ac) with a southwest aspect which maximises the exposure of the vines to the afternoon sun. The climate here is continental, with warm, long summers and relatively dry fall months with rainfall concentrated to the winter. 

Product size: 750ml