Domaine Larue Saint-Aubin 1er Cru ‘Murgers des Dents de Chien’ was a revelation when tasted over the course of several days, just getting more and more complex as it evolved. A complex, creamy, buttery nose, hazelnut and very fine. Dry, mid-weight, lovely mouthfeel, soft, juicy acidity, limes mid-finish, beautifully put together and balanced.
The terroir of Domaine Larue Saint-Aubin 1er Cru ‘Murgers des Dents de Chien’ is located in the southern part of Saint-Aubin, at the limit of the Puligny-Montrachet appellation, very close to the grand cru Montrachet. Made up of five parcels facing south at an average elevation of 340 metres, the vineyard lies mid-slope on very calcareous soil. Rock shows through the soil and forms jagged outcrops resembling dog teeth. These chardonnay variety vines were planted from 1946 on an earthy oasis. Consecutive plantings followed in 1964/1972 /1990. The last parcel saw the light of day in 1997.
DOMAINE LARUE, Saint-Aubin
Organic principles
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 neighbour 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 Larue’s are meticulous and precise in all aspects of winegrowing and winemaking and their wines reflect these qualities. The grapes are transported in small skips, crushed, and put through a pneumatic press. Solids are separated out and the must is run off into barrels (1/4 of them new) for alcoholic fermentation. Maturation on lees lasts 10-12 months with occasional stirring. Then the wine is racked off, finings added if needed, and bottling takes place on site