Château Latour-Martillac

History of Château Latour-Martillac

The history of Château Latour-Martillac dates back to the 12th century, when the tower that gives the estate its name was erected by the ancestors of the philosopher Montesquieu. This medieval fortification, which originally stood as a strategic defensive point between Bordeaux and Toulouse, bears witness to the rich historical past of the property. It was not until the end of the 19th century, in 1871, that the modern history of the estate began to take shape under the impetus of Édouard Kressmann, a Bordeaux merchant of Rhenish origin. Drawn by the exceptional quality of the white wines produced from the gravelly slopes of Martillac, Kressmann fell under the charm of the estate and decided to develop it.

The acquisition of the estate by Alfred Kressmann, son of Édouard, in 1930, marked a decisive turning point. He renamed the property Château Latour-Martillac in order to distinguish it from its namesake in the Médoc, Château Latour. From that moment on, the estate began to make a name for itself in the Bordeaux wine world, notably thanks to its exceptional white and red wines. Jean Kressmann, Alfred's son, continued this work by expanding the vineyard and restructuring the property, particularly after the Second World War. Jean also played an important role in the creation of the Pessac-Léognan appellation in 1987.

Today, it is Tristan and Loïc Kressmann, Jean's sons, who carry on the family tradition, making the most of this unique terroir with the help of Bordeaux's finest oenologists.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Latour-Martillac

The Château Latour-Martillac vineyard spans 54 hectares, with 45 hectares dedicated to red grape varieties and 9 hectares to white grape varieties. It is divided into two homogeneous sections, offering a diversity of soils and microclimates conducive to the optimal expression of the cultivated grape varieties.

The Martillac plateau is characterised by deep gravel, a mosaic of small pebbles composed of quartz, lydite, jasper and flint deposited by the Garonne during the Quaternary period. This poor, well-drained soil encourages deep rooting of the vines and ensures uniform ripening of red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. These conditions allow the grapes to fully express their noble character, with silky tannins and a rich aromatic intensity.

Moving down towards the Garonne, the soils become more clay-limestone, with gravel on the surface. This terroir is ideal for white grape varieties, in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, which make up the estate's celebrated white wines. The oldest plot, named Grapecap, was planted in 1884 and is home to historic vines of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. These century-old vines yield grapes of exceptional quality, brimming with complex flavours and a great freshness.

Vinifications at Château Latour-Martillac

Château Latour-Martillac places paramount importance on the quality of its winemaking, whether for red or white wines. Every step, from harvest to bottling, is carried out with meticulous craftsmanship to guarantee exceptional wines, faithful to the terroir and to family tradition.

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, with meticulous sorting of the bunches in the vineyard and then in the cellar. For white grape varieties, the Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are harvested in several passes, according to their degree of ripeness, and transported in crates to preserve their integrity. The grapes are then pressed slowly, allowing a gentle extraction of aromas and flavours from the skins. The musts are clarified naturally before being placed in barrels for fermentation and ageing on the lees. This process includes regular stirring (bâtonnage), which brings structure and complexity to the final wine.

For red wines, the bunches are also carefully sorted after destemming. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, allowing perfect control of temperatures and optimal extraction of tannins. Each plot is vinified separately, in order to respect the specificity of each terroir. The red wines are then aged for between 15 and 18 months in French oak barrels, renewed each year by one third. This long ageing process gives the wines silky tannins and an exceptional ability to age.

The Cuvées of Château Latour-Martillac

Château Latour-Martillac offers several cuvées, each embodying the excellence of the estate and the authenticity of the Graves terroir.

Château Latour-Martillac Rouge - Grand Cru Classé de Graves  

Composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%) and Petit Verdot (5%), Château Latour-Martillac rouge offers a perfect balance between power and finesse. Aromas of black fruits, blackcurrant and cocoa blend with subtle woody notes. This wine is at once elegant and structured, with well-rounded tannins and a beautiful length on the palate. It ages admirably, revealing increasingly complex aromas and a velvety texture over time.

Château Latour-Martillac Blanc - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Produced from Sauvignon Blanc (60%) and Sémillon (40%), this fine wine is renowned for its finesse and freshness. Aromas of exotic fruits, grapefruit and white flowers harmonise with a minerality characteristic of the terroir. On the palate, it reveals a lively acidity perfectly balanced by the roundness of the Sémillons. This wine can be enjoyed in its youth or after a few years of ageing, during which it gains in depth and complexity.

Lagrave-Martillac Rouge et Blanc  

The estate's second wine, Lagrave-Martillac, is available in both red and white. In red, the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot offers an approachable wine, with aromas of red fruits and a fine tannic structure. In white, the marriage of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon creates a fresh, lively and aromatic wine, ideal for a more relaxed tasting.

La Croix Martillac Rouge et Blanc

More recently introduced, La Croix Martillac is the estate's third wine. It reflects the same care applied to the other cuvées, with quality wines suited to more immediate drinking, while retaining the elegance that is the hallmark of Château Latour-Martillac.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two appellations of Bordeaux, stand out for their consistent quality. The years 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 are particularly appreciated for their finesse and balance. The vintages 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are also remarkable for their structure and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 confirm the continuation of this excellence, with wines offering both elegance and longevity.

Explore the full range of Grands Crus Classés from Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the Premier Grand Cru Classé of 1855, Château Haut-Brion from Pessac-Léognan, is a historic benchmark. For red and white wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer interesting cuvées. On the red side, you can discover the wines of Château Fieuzal, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Latour Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Pape-Clément and Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. White wine lovers can turn to the productions of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer a wide range of wines to discover at the heart of the Graves region.

Château Latour-Martillac, with its historic roots and family expertise passed down from generation to generation, remains an unmissable reference in the Bordeaux wine landscape. Its wines, whether red or white, reflect the richness of its terroir and the meticulous attention paid to every stage of their production. Offering excellent value for money, the estate's wines are at once elegant, complex and well-suited to ageing. Whether you are an enthusiast or a seasoned connoisseur, the wines of Château Latour-Martillac will captivate you with their authenticity and finesse.