”The difference between the two reds, Château Laurence and Petite Laurence, is the aim: structure and elegance in the first wine (14 months of ageing) while fruity and purity in the second one. Soon I will present a third red wine: sulphate free.” Phillipe Nunès
Château Laurence is a small family property owned and operated by Philippe Nunès. The winery is located on a clay-limestone plateau, close to the village of Montusson. The property was created in 2012 by Philippe Nunes and partners with the project of producing excellent Merlot offering very good value wines. For the anecdote, the Château takes its name
from a small river that borders the plots of the property.
Today Château Laurence produces fifty thousand bottles: two reds, two whites, one rosé, two sparkling wines made in the “Méthode Champenoise”.
Why did you start making wine?
Philippe Nunès: I’m feeling like Obelix, I fell into wine when I was young. I used to help my parents in the Margaux region and then at 18 years old I had to decide what to do. I had two visions and objectives: to be an agronomic engineer or a winery director. Finally, now and for a few years I’m an oenology consultant. I’ve been working since 2001 for De Boüard Consulting for some Bordeaux wineries but also for foreign wineries. At the beginning, I produced wine for third parties.
The brand didn’t exist. In 2012 I started a partnership with Hubert de Boüard de Laforest (Château Angélus) and along with some friends we bought a 6.6-hectare estate in a plateau located between Saint Sulplice and Cameyrac. After some years I noticed I was the main person involved so in 2017 I decided to buy all the shares of the other shareholders. The vines overhang the small river Laurence, from which the winery takes its name. We started producing wine in 2013 although the cellar was not completed, actually, it is still undergoing renovations.
What do you like about the wine world?
P.N.: The thing that attracts me the most is the vine. We can’t make good wine without a great vineyard / terroir. If I had the chance to come back in time I would probably choose to buy a winery earlier. I love to follow the vines; to work the wine from the bud to the berries.
If you had to define in a few words what wine represents for you what would they be?
P.N.: Race, gourmet, great, sharing, conviviality.
What is the peculiarity/ characteristics of the terroir?
P.N.: The vines are located between Saint-Sulpice-et-Cameyrac and Montussan, the vineyards grow on soils of clay and limestone as well as on gravel and clay: the perfect terroir for Merlot. I produce also sauvignon blanc and chardonnay, this last is produced with classic methods. I’m alone. My sons help me sometimes. In the future, my plans are to plant other chardonnay vines and keep going into biodynamic agriculture. I guess I will see the first results in 10 years.
How do you recognize your wine in a blind taste?P.N.: Concerning white wines I can find tell thanks
to the freshness and the fruits, they remind me of those of Pessac-Léognan. The merlot reminds me the great Pomerol or Saint-Emilion. In fact I remember once my wine was the most appreciated in a great line up. Eventually it’s hard for me recognize them. The definition of tannins is due to the passage of time in great quality barrels.
Thank you to Philippe Nunes for his great hospitality. – J.C.C.
Château Laurence
SCEA Vignobles de la Laurence
33450 Montussan – France
contact@chateaulaurence.fr
