Château Latour-Martillac 2008

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 2008

Tasting

Colour
The wine displays a golden-yellow hue, enhanced by lovely pale highlights.

Nose
Delicate throughout, the nose reveals aromas of ripe citrus and exotic fruit, opening onto notes of fig, apple and orange blossom.

Palate
A lively attack gives way to an ample palate with a pleasant richness. The wine stretches into a remarkably long finish, marked by lovely aromatic freshness.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine pairs perfectly with fine fish such as roast sea bass or turbot, seafood such as langoustines or scallops, as well as poultry in sauce or soft cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

This Château Latour-Martillac 2008 has good ageing potential and can continue to develop favourably in bottle for around a decade.

The vibrancy and precision of a white wine from Pessac-Léognan

The estate

Located in Martillac, in the Bordeaux region of France, Château Latour-Martillac takes its name from an old fort. While the history of the site is long, the family estate was founded in 1930, when it was acquired by Alfred Kressmann. Today, the property is run by Tristan and Loïc Kressmann. Renowned for its Art Deco label, the estate stands out for its dual classification in 1953 for both its red and white wines. Committed to sustainable practices, the vineyard is certified High Environmental Value (HVE).

The vineyard

The vineyard covers 42 hectares within the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The vines dedicated to white wines are planted close to the Garonne, on clay-limestone soils topped with gravel. This cool terroir benefits from a microclimate moderated by the river, ideal for ripening white grape varieties. The estate is also home to the historic Grattecap plot, grafted in 1884.

The vintage

The 2008 vintage was marked by contrasting weather conditions in the region, notably a spring frost on 7 April. The white grapes were then harvested from 8 to 23 September in successive passes through the vineyard, in order to pick the berries at optimal aromatic ripeness.

Vinification and ageing

The 2008 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc is vinified in barrels. The wine is then aged on its lees for fifteen months, ten of which are spent in oak barrels (30% new oak). It was bottled in February 2010.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (62%), Sémillon (35%) and Muscadelle (3%).