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 neighbor 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. These holdings include seven premier crus, on south, southeast, and southwestern facing slopes, grown on variations of clay soils with a high concentration of limestone. The domaine's premier cru vineyard in Puligny-Montrachet, La Garenne, sits at a high altitude in the Hameau de Blagny, bordering Meursault.
The grapes for the La Garenne come from a vineyard high above the hamlet of Blagny, where there are only thirty centimeters between the limestone soil and the bedrock. Thirty measly centimeters of pebbly earth before those hardy vines anchor themselves in whatever mineral-rich cracks and crevices they come across, gleaning scarce nutrients and suffering through droughts to produce highly concentrated grapes with amazing acidity and verve. You'll find all the purity and energy for which Larue's wines are known, plus the depth and richness typical of Puligny. The 2018 La Garenne is an incredibly fine and complex wine with notes of green apple, minerality, lemon zest and honey.
