Larue

History of Domaine Larue

The history of Domaine Larue is rooted in the early twentieth century in Saint-Aubin, the historic birthplace of the Larue family. Over the generations, the domaine has patiently built 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 winegrowers, run the domaine in perfect complementarity, in the purest 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 their elders while bringing a renewed vision of practices in the vineyard and cellar. At the domaine, one guiding principle prevails: trust — the trust shared among the four men, who share the same philosophy. Knowing how to adapt work to the vintages and parcels, applying keen observation and a deep understanding of the terroirs on a daily basis: this is the family's hallmark. Over time, the domaine has become an essential reference for the Saint-Aubin appellation, and more broadly for the Côte de Beaune.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Larue

The vineyard of Domaine Larue spans 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 domaine is located in Saint-Aubin, the flagship appellation of the estate, where the family owns a remarkable range of nine Premiers Crus that reveal the full, 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 parcels 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 gravels 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 domaine holds no official certification, certain practices are directly drawn from organic farming and biodynamics. The key lies in adaptation and observation: spending time in the vineyards, understanding their behavior, favoring living and less compacted soils, limiting plowing and trimming, in a minimalist and respectful approach.

Vinifications at Domaine Larue

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

The vinifications are kept as non-interventionist as possible, in respect of the fruit and the climat. The Chardonnays are whole-cluster pressed, followed by careful settling, fermentation, and aging 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. Extended aging on fine lees gives the whites their textural signature: taut and mineral. For the reds, extractions are gentle, ensuring balance between fruit, freshness, and structure. The wines of Domaine Larue stand out for their authenticity, precision, and faithfulness to the great climats of the Côte de Beaune.

The Cuvées of Domaine Larue

Bourgogne Aligoté: a regional cuvée sourced 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 color, nose of white flowers, a slightly sparkling, fresh, and charming palate. Approximately 10,000 bottles produced.

Bourgogne Chardonnay: a regional white cuvée crafted from young vines on the estate. 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 domaine, this wine captivates with its saline minerality, 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 and direct neighbor of Le Montrachet. The wine unfolds great aromatic complexity, a pronounced chalky minerality, and a remarkable saline length.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly: an emblematic Premier Cru from Saint-Aubin, this wine stands out for its chiseled freshness, notes of candied citrus and flint, and its excellent aging potential.

Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau: a Premier Cru offering a denser texture, aromas of ripe white fruits and toasted hazelnuts, 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 distinguished elegance.

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

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 neighboring the domaine, located on the same road. The wine offers a rich texture, beautiful aromatic complexity of white fruits, gentle spices, and flowers, and a chiseled mineral framework.

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

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

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

Puligny-Montrachet Sous le Puits: another single-parcel cuvée from Puligny, endowed with beautiful aromatic depth, a balanced texture, and a mineral signature.

Chassagne-Montrachet La Boudriotte (white): a single-parcel cuvée sourced from the celebrated La Boudriotte climat in Chassagne-Montrachet. The wine offers an ample texture, 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, mineral aromas, and beautiful length, in a taut and precise style.

Meursault: an emblematic village-level cuvée from Meursault, this Chardonnay unfolds 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 profound, marked by ripe black fruits, gentle spices, and silky 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-parcel red cuvée, sourced from the same climat as its white counterpart. The wine offers a denser texture, aromas of black cherry, spices, and undergrowth, and excellent aging potential.

Aloxe-Corton: the northernmost cuvée of the domaine, located in the Côte de Beaune. A full-bodied and profound Pinot Noir, marked by aromas of concentrated black fruits, noble spices, and undergrowth, supported by a structured tannic backbone built for aging.