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 fort, which originally stood as a strategic point of defence between Bordeaux and Toulouse, bears witness to the estate's rich historical past. It was not until the late 19th century, in 1871, that the estate's modern history began to take shape under the impetus of Édouard Kressmann, a Bordeaux wine merchant of Rhenish origin. Attracted by the exceptional quality of the white wines from the gravelly hillock of Martillac, Kressmann fell in love with the estate and decided to develop it.

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

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

Terroirs and Vines of Château Latour-Martillac

The Château Latour-Martillac vineyard covers 54 hectares, with 45 hectares dedicated to red grape varieties and 9 hectares to white grape varieties. It is divided into two homogeneous sets, 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 consisting of quartz, lydian, jasper and flint deposited by the Garonne during the Quaternary period. This poor, well-drained soil favours deep rooting of the vines and ensures homogeneous 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 rich aromatic intensity.

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

Vinifications at Château Latour-Martillac

Château Latour-Martillac attaches paramount importance to the quality of its vinifications, whether for red or white wines. Each step, from harvest to bottling, is carried out with meticulous care to guarantee exceptional wines, faithful to the terroir and family tradition.

The harvests are carried out entirely by hand, with meticulous sorting of the bunches in the vineyard and then in the winery. For white grape varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are harvested in several passes, according to their degree of ripeness, and transported in small crates to preserve their integrity. The grapes are then slowly pressed, allowing for gentle extraction of aromas and flavours from the skins. The musts are naturally clarified before being put into barrels for fermentation and ageing on lees. This process includes regular stirring, 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, to respect the specificity of each terroir. The red wines are then aged for 15 to 18 months in French oak barrels, renewed each year by one third. This long ageing process gives the wines silky tannins and exceptional ageing potential.

The Cuvées of Château Latour-Martillac

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

Château Latour-Martillac Rouge - Grand Cru Classé de Graves  

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

Château Latour-Martillac Blanc - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

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

Lagrave-Martillac Rouge and Blanc  

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

La Croix Martillac Rouge and Blanc

More recently introduced, La Croix Martillac is the estate's third wine. It reflects the same care given to the other cuvées, with quality wines that lend themselves to more immediate consumption, while retaining the elegance characteristic of Château Latour-Martillac.

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

Explore all the Grands Crus Classés de Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the First Growth of 1855, Château Haut-Brion of Pessac-Léognan, is a historical reference. For red andwhite wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer interesting cuvées. For reds, 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 enthusiasts can turn to the productions of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer you a wide range of wines to discover in the heart of the Graves region.

Château Latour-Martillac, with its historical roots and family know-how passed down from generation to generation, remains an essential reference in the Bordeaux wine landscape. Its wines, whether red or white, are a reflection of the richness of its terroir and the meticulous attention paid to every step of their production. Offering excellent value for money, the estate's wines are both elegant, complex and suitable for ageing. Whether you are an amateur or a connoisseur, the wines of Château Latour-Martillac will seduce you with their authenticity and finesse.