Larue

History of Domaine Larue

The history of Domaine Larue is rooted in the early twentieth century in Saint-Aubin, the historic cradle of the Larue family. Over the generations, the estate patiently built up an exceptional parcel portfolio, passed down from father to son, perpetuating a viticultural heritage of rare coherence. Today, Denis and Didier Larue, two brothers and vignerons, run the estate in perfect complementarity, in the finest Burgundian tradition.

The new generation has joined the family adventure: Bruno, Denis's son, and Vivien, Didier's son, now work alongside their fathers. This gradual transition allows the younger generation to continue learning from the elders while bringing a renewed vision of practices in the vineyard and the cellar. At the estate, one guiding principle reigns supreme: trust — the trust that the four men place in one another, sharing the same philosophy. Knowing how to adapt the work to the vintages and the plots, drawing on keen observation and an intimate knowledge of the terroirs day after day: this is the family's signature. Over time, the estate has become an unmissable reference in the Saint-Aubin appellation, and more broadly in the Côte de Beaune.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Larue

The Domaine Larue vineyard extends over seventeen hectares spread across four prestigious villages of the Côte de Beaune, from Chassagne-Montrachet in the south to Aloxe-Corton in the north. The heart of the estate lies in Saint-Aubin, the appellation that defines the domaine, where the family holds a remarkable portfolio of nine Premiers Crus that reveal the full and fabulous diversity of the local terroirs: Murgers des Dents de Chien, En Remilly, En Montceau, Sous Roche Dumay, Les Champlots, Les Combes, La Chatenière, Les Cortons, and others. To these are added plots in Puligny-Montrachet (Le Trézin, La Garenne, Sous le Puits), in Chassagne-Montrachet (La Boudriotte), in Blagny as a Premier Cru, as well as in Meursault and Aloxe-Corton.

The soils, predominantly clay-limestone with a great diversity of marls, hard limestones and pebbles depending on the climat, provide an ideal setting for Chardonnay — whose white cuvées represent the majority of production — and for Pinot Noir for the reds. While the estate claims no official certification, certain practices are directly drawn from organic and biodynamic farming. The key lies in adaptation and observation: spending time in the vines, understanding their behaviour, favouring living and less compacted soils, limiting ploughing and trimming, in a minimalist and respectful approach.

Winemaking at Domaine Larue

In the cellar, Domaine Larue cultivates a precise and meticulous approach, in the finest Burgundian tradition. Harvests are entirely manual, and the grapes are sorted successively on several occasions to retain only the ripest and healthiest berries. This rigorous selection, combined with the perfect ripeness achieved through careful monitoring throughout the year, guarantees raw materials of irreproachable quality.

The winemaking aims to be as non-interventionist as possible, in respect of the fruit and the vintage. The Chardonnays are pressed as whole bunches, followed by careful settling, and then fermentation and ageing in French oak barrels. The proportion of new wood is measured and adapted to each cuvée, so as to bring structure and complexity without masking the purity of the terroir. The long ageing on fine lees gives the whites their textural signature — taut and mineral. For the reds, extractions are gentle, ensuring the balance between fruit, freshness and structure. The wines of Domaine Larue are distinguished by their authenticity, their precision and their faithfulness to the great climats of the Côte de Beaune.

The Cuvées of Domaine Larue

Bourgogne Aligoté: a regional cuvée from 1.12 hectares of old vines (30 to 70 years old) planted in Saint-Aubin at high density (10,000 vines/ha). A crystalline colour, a nose of white flowers, a slightly sparkling, fresh and charming palate. Approximately 10,000 bottles produced.

Bourgogne Chardonnay: a regional white cuvée produced from the estate's young vines. The wine offers an expressive nose of white fruits and citrus, a balanced, fresh and approachable palate.

Saint-Aubin Blanc: A village-level Chardonnay at the heart of the estate, this wine captivates with its saline minerality, its aromas of citrus and white flowers, and its taut and precise palate.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Murgers des Dents de Chien: A renowned Premier Cru, a direct neighbour of Montrachet. The wine displays great aromatic complexity, a pronounced chalky minerality and a remarkable saline length.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly: An iconic Premier Cru of Saint-Aubin, this wine stands out for its chiselled freshness, its notes of candied citrus and gunflint, and its fine ageing potential.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau: A Premier Cru offering a denser substance, aromas of ripe white fruits and toasted hazelnut, and an ample, persistent finish.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sous Roche Dumay: A rarer Premier Cru, expressing great aromatic precision, a mineral framework and a palate of thoroughbred elegance.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Champlots: A Premier Cru with a generous substance, marked by aromas of ripe yellow fruits, fresh butter and honey, supported by a fine liveliness.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Combes: A subtle and refined Premier Cru, with a floral and fruity nose, a fine, taut and persistent palate.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chatenière: A Premier Cru neighbouring the estate, located on the same street. The wine offers a rich substance, a fine aromatic complexity of white fruits, gentle spices and flowers, and a chiselled mineral framework.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Les Cortons: A Premier Cru with a strong identity, offering a deep, mature wine with complex aromas of exotic fruits, toasted almond and candied citrus.

Puligny-Montrachet Le Trézin: a village-level cuvée of Puligny-Montrachet from the climat Le Trézin, on the border with Saint-Aubin. The wine captivates with its saline tension, its mineral aromas and its refined palate.

Puligny-Montrachet La Garenne: a single-plot cuvée from the lieu-dit La Garenne, expressing the classic richness of Puligny-Montrachet: a dense substance, aromas of white fruits, and a long and precise finish.

Puligny-Montrachet Sous le Puits: another single-plot cuvée from Puligny, with a fine aromatic depth, a well-balanced substance and a mineral signature.

Chassagne-Montrachet La Boudriotte (white): a single-plot cuvée from the celebrated climat La Boudriotte in Chassagne-Montrachet. The wine offers an ample substance, complex aromas of yellow fruits, white flowers, hazelnut and honey.

Blagny 1er Cru: A rare Premier Cru from the Blagny appellation, this wine stands out for its firm structure, its mineral aromas and its fine length, in a taut and precise style.

Meursault: an iconic village-level cuvée from Meursault, this Chardonnay displays a generous nose of white fruits, hazelnut and flowers, a rich yet balanced palate, supported by a fine acidity.

Saint-Aubin Rouge: A village-level Pinot Noir from Saint-Aubin, this fresh and fruity wine offers aromas of cherry and raspberry, a supple, fine and thirst-quenching palate.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Rouge: A red Premier Cru from Saint-Aubin, more structured and deep, marked by ripe black fruits, gentle spices and melted tannins.

Chassagne-Montrachet (red): A village-level Pinot Noir from Chassagne, revealing an expressive nose of red and black fruits, a balanced and refined palate.

Chassagne-Montrachet La Boudriotte (red): a single-plot red cuvée, from the same climat as its white counterpart. The wine offers a denser substance, aromas of black cherry, spices and undergrowth, and a fine ageing potential.

Aloxe-Corton: the most northerly cuvée of the estate, situated in the Côte de Beaune. A full-bodied and deep Pinot Noir, marked by aromas of concentrated black fruits, noble spices and undergrowth, supported by a structured tannic framework built for ageing.