SATURDAY TASTING: Château Latour-Martillac
This is the kind of Saturday that doesn't come around often. Wilfrid Groizard, Deputy Managing Director of Château Latour-Martillac, one of Pessac-Léognan's finest estates, will be in the shop from 1:00 to 4:00, pouring his these special wines in person.
For the terroir geeks in the room: the estate takes its name from the tower still standing in the château's main courtyard, the last remnant of a 12th-century fortress built by the ancestors of Montesquieu himself. That fort once controlled the strategic route between Bordeaux and Toulouse, and when it fell out of use, its stones were repurposed to build the château that stands today, raised at the end of the 18th century.
The modern story starts in 1871, when Edouard Kressmann, who'd just founded his négociant house in Bordeaux, fell for the estate's gravelly hilltop, the kind of dramatic relief and exposure that makes Pessac-Léognan special. He planted a plot in 1884 with his own hand-picked selection of grape varieties for what would become "Graves Monopole Dry," a wine so beloved it was reportedly named by opera diva Adelina Patti herself. That same plot is still there, over 140 years old, and those ancient vines still shape the breed and character of the wine today. This Estate has been on a roll as of late, making exceptional wines at a very fair price. Having been lucky enough to visit (and stay!) at the property many times, I can say that we are very proud to have a unique partnership with this Chateau.
Come taste history in a glass. Saturday, 1:00–4:00 PM. No reservation needed, just show up thirsty for something special.
Wilfrid will pour the following:
2023 Chateau Lagrave Martillac Blanc- Pessac $29.99
Lagrave-Martillac Blanc draws on a careful selection of young-vine parcels, blended in equal parts from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The vines grow in the gravel soils typical of Graves, layered with pockets of sand and clay that drain well and suit the region's temperate, oceanic climate. Each parcel is fermented separately in barrel, then the wine rests on its lees in French oak for seven months, a process that mirrors the estate's approach to its flagship white while keeping this cuvée fresh and approachable
2023 Chateau Latour Martillac Blanc- Pessac $44.99
"Ripe stone and tropical fruits, minty herbs, and white flower nuances all emerge from the 2023 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc, a clean, crisp, and expressive Pessac-Léognan Blanc. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, rock-solid balance, and a kiss of salty minerality on the finish. Drink bottles over the coming decade (or even longer if you're so inclined). Drink 2026-2040."
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck
2016 Chateau Latour Martillac rouge -Pessac $49.99
The 2016 Latour Martillac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with warm plums, kirsch and redcurrant jelly on the nose with touches of bay leaves, iron ore and black soil. Medium-bodied with a well-sustained mid-palate of muscular fruit, it has a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long."
93 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown The Wine Advocate