Chateau La Louviere Pessac Leognan Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau La Louviere, Pessac Leognan with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau La Louviere History, Overview

Chateau La Louviere, like many Pessac Leognan estates enjoys a long history. In fact, Chateau La Louviere dates back to the late 1300s as an estate., passing from owner to owner, which included an order of monks in the early 1600s.

The vineyard was confiscated during the French Revolution and eventually sold to the Mareilhac family, who also owned Chateau Rieussec in Sauternes at one point in time.

Chateau La Louviere, the Modern Era

The modern age for Chateau La Louviere begins in 1965 when the well-known Lurton family purchased Chateau La Louviere from the Taquet family. The Taquet family had been the owners of Chateau La Louviere since the early part of the 20th century.

The purchase price could not have been much, as the estate had fallen into a serious state of dilapidation. Extensive renovations were required in the cellars, the vineyards, and the chateau of La Louviere which is now classified as a national architectural treasure by the French government.

2003 marked an interesting experiment when Chateau La Louviere became one of the first, well-known Bordeaux estates to bottle their wine using the Stelvin screw cap enclosure.

The estate was once again modernized in 2008. Today, the estate is managed by Andre Lurton. This branch of the Lurton family owns several other Bordeaux chateaux including Chateau Couhins-Lurton and Chateau Dauzac in Margaux.

Chateau La Louviere Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 61.5-hectare vineyard of Chateau La Louviere is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, although there are some Petit Verdot vines remaining in the vineyard. The Cabernet Franc has been completely removed.

13.5 hectares are devoted to white wine grape varieties which are planted to 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon, with a similar planting density and vine age as the red wine varieties.

The terroir is gravel with limestone deposits in the soil. On average, the vines are close to 25 years of age. The vines are planted to a density that ranges from 6,500 vines per hectare up to 8,500 vines per hectare. The higher levels of density are for the newer plantings.

Chateau La Louviere has good neighbors. They are located in Cadaujac, which is not far from Chateau Haut Bailly and across the way from Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. Even with their new wine-making facilities, cellars and good terroir, the wines have not always been consistent. Since 2015, they have been on a roll and the wines have never been better.

In 2013, Chateau La Louviere hired Michel Rolland as their consultant in an effort to improve their red wines and to bring more attention to the estate. Denis Dubourdieu continued to consult for the white wines until his demise.

Chateau La Louviere Winemaking

To produce the red wine of Chateau La Louviere, vinification takes place in a combination of temperature-controlled, traditional, cement vats and stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is aged in 50% new, French oak barrels for about 15 months.

To produce the white wine of Chateau La Louviere, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed. There is no contact between the juice and the skin. There is no malolactic fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation starts in tanks and continues in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. The wine is and aged on its lees in an average of 45% new, French oak barrels for close to 9 to months before bottling, depending on the vintage.

For the red wine of Chateau La Louviere, the average production is 20,000 cases per vintage. For the white wine, the production is close to 4,000 cases per year. There is a second wine for both the red and white wine, L de La Louviere.

The Best Vintages of Chateau La Louviere are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2000. Although it is important to note that vintages can vary as to their quality between the white wine and the reds as in some years, the reds are markedly better and in other vintages the whites are superior.

When to Drink Chateau La Louviere, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau La Louviere can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of about 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau La Louviere is usually better with at least 4-7 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau La Louviere offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 6-15 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau La Louviere, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Louviere is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The red wine of Chateau La Louviere is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau La Louviere is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese. The white wine of Chateau La Louviere is a perfect wine to serve with shellfish, sashimi, sushi, all types of seafood, chicken, veal, and cheese.

www.andrelurton.com