Domaine Larue, Saint-Aubin Blanc, Burgundy, France, 2022

Overview of the Wine
In 1946, Guy Larue founded his family’s estate in the small hamlet of Gamay, in Saint-Aubin, located just behind the famed Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet slope. Much like its neighbor Chassagne-Montrachet to the south, Saint-Aubin was historically known for red wine, though the Larues have specialized in the great white crus of Saint-Aubin. In 1976, Guy’s son Denis assumed the reins of Domaine Larue and was joined by his brother, Didier, in 1982. In 2006, Denis’s son Bruno joined the Domaine, thus continuing the family’s winemaking lineage.

The Larue holdings are spread between the two villages of Saint-Aubin and Puligny-Montrachet, with a large concentration at the southern portion of the Saint-Aubin appellation. These holdings include seven premier cru climats, on south, southeast, and southwestern facing slopes, grown on variations of clay soils with a high concentration of limestone. Combined with the varying grades of slope and elevations ranging from 800 to 1200 feet, the Larues have a truly magical diversity within Saint-Aubin, one of the under-rated gems of Burgundy. The domaine's premier cru vineyard in Puligny-Montrachet, La Garenne, sits at a high altitude in the Hameau de Blagny, bordering Meursault. Their largest parcel, 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 the domaine's prized vineyard, capable of producing wine that can age and improve in the bottle for decades.

Wines from Larue possess purity, energy, and an invariable minerality derived from the predominant limestone soils of Saint-Aubin. The Larues are meticulous and precise in all aspects of winegrowing and winemaking and their wines reflect these qualities. Tasting the full range is a veritable tour of the appellation, with each terroir’s individual and striking signature clearly evident. These wonderful white Burgundies have the additional benefit of being approachable young, although they are tightly wound and can always benefit from a few extra years of bottle age.

• Vineyards are sustainably farmed
• All grapes are harvested and sorted by hand
• Aged sur-lie for 10-12 months with occasional lees stirring
• Wine is racked before bottling

Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Saint Aubin, Burgundy, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Wines from Larue possess purity, energy, and an invariable minerality derived from the predominant limestone soils of this appellation. Their Saint-Aubin blanc, with its elegant, hazelnut-inflected fruit and precise, stony finish, is a textbook example of the charm and value to be found here, and a perfect white Burgundy to appreciate in its vibrant youth.

In the glass this is clear gold. On the nose, gooseberry and melon aromas meld with subtle freesia bloom - a touch of oak in the background. On the palate you’ll find lemon, butterscotch and nectarine with warm nutty notes on the finish. This has a lovely soft mouthfeel. Intensity of flavour is matched by a nice line of acid, giving this wine a balanced and smooth old world composition - subtle fruit, understated oak and acid providing good length and structure. Sourced from 2 parcels the Domaine owns, in the lieu dits of Champ Tirant and Bas de Jourcul, near the village of Gamay in a section of village St Aubin vineyards, which stretch round a convex south east to south facing hillside. Vineyards were planted between 1971 and 2005, average age of 40 years across the two plots. Pressed, settled then moved to barrel by gravity. Fermented in barrel (20% new) then elevage on lees for 10 months.

Product size: 750ml