Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month - March 2025

For March’s wine selection, we feature these four wines:

• A fresh and refined white wine from Pessac-Léognan: Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 2020

• A Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé: Château Faugères 2018

• A powerful Barolo from a renowned Italian estate: Parusso Mosconi 2018

• A graceful Margaux from the prestigious Château Marquis d’Alesme 2019

Château Latour-Martillac, a renowned estate in the heart of Pessac-Léognan, has been producing exceptional wines since the 18th century. Classified as a Grand Cru Classé since 1953, the estate’s gravelly soils are ideal for growing both red and white grape varieties. The estate’s name comes from the 12th-century tower in the château’s courtyard, a relic of a fort built by Montesquieu's ancestors. Acquired by Edouard Kressmann in 1871 and later passed down to his son, Alfred, in 1930, the estate is now owned by Jean Kressmann’s six children, with Tristan and Loïc overseeing operations. Under their management and with the guidance of top Bordeaux consultants, Latour-Martillac continues its tradition of selecting the finest parcels for its premier wines. The 2020 Latour-Martillac Blanc, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, perfectly reflects this heritage, combining the vibrant freshness of Sauvignon Blanc with the richness of Sémillon. The wine offers aromas of citrus, lime, and honeysuckle, with a lively, smooth texture and a refreshing finish. This harmonious blend elevates the wines to among the finest in Pessac-Léognan. 

Château Faugères is an exceptional Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé estate owned by Silvio Denz, a prominent figure in the Swiss luxury goods and hospitality industry. The estate spans 42 hectares of vineyards, planted predominantly with Merlot (85%), along with Cabernet Franc (10%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The property's history dates back to 1619, when it was cultivated by André de Faugeres, after whom the estate is named. In 1987, the Guisez family, descendants of the Esquissaud family who had owned the estate since 1823, took over and began enhancing both the vineyard and cellar practices. After Silvio Denz acquired the ownership, Château Faugères combines traditional methods with modern winemaking techniques, ensuring the wines remain true to their Saint-Émilion roots while embracing innovation. Each vintage produces around 15,000 cases, showcasing the estate's dedication to quality and craftsmanship. The 2018 vintage offers a beautiful balance of fruit richness and structural complexity, with vibrant notes of dark fruits like blackberries and plums, accompanied by subtle hints of spices and oak. As the world’s largest collector of Rene Lalique crystals, Denz introduced Lalique-themed designs to the wine bottles used by Château Faugères.

Parusso Armando is one of Barolo's most respected names, situated in the prestigious Monforte d'Alba region of Piedmont, Italy. The Mosconi vineyard, considered one of the finest in the area, is owned and operated by Giorgio Parusso, a talented winemaker who has garnered international acclaim for his exceptional Crus, including Mosconi, Bussia, and Mariondino. The estate benefits from a unique terroir, with limestone-rich soils and ideal growing conditions for Nebbiolo. The 2018 Parusso Mosconi Barolo is a prime example of this quality, offering a rich, structured profile that showcases the vineyard's exceptional potential. The estate spans 28 hectares, producing approximately 150,000 bottles annually, focusing on native grapes such as Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo. From Nebbiolo, the domaine crafts the Langhe DOC Nebbiolo, an excellent representation of the Parusso style, as well as the DOCG Barolo Perarmando. With an average aging potential of 15-20 years, the wines of Parusso Armando continue to gain recognition worldwide for their unparalleled quality.

Château Marquis d’Alesme, a historic estate with origins dating back to 1616, stands proudly as a distinguished Third Growth in Margaux. Known for its elegance and refined craftsmanship, the château has long been considered one of the top producers in the area. Under the stewardship of Nathalie Perrodo, who inherited the chateau after the untimely death of her father soon after acquiring the estate, the winemaking team continued best practices across the family’s holdings of prestigious wineries, including Château Labégorce and La Tour de Mons. In the past ten years, the family estate has been producing ever better wines of exceptional character. The 2019 vintage, a harmonious blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, perfectly captures the balance and finesse for which Margaux is celebrated. It is marked by rich aromas of red fruit, violets, and subtle oak, offering an exquisite fusion of Eastern and Western influences. As a Grand Cru Classé estate, Château Marquis d’Alesme exemplifies the purest vine-growing tradition, where each vintage promises a unique tasting experience, blending sensory pleasure with aesthetic enjoyment.

Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 2020 - "The 2020 Latour-Martillac Blanc has a more reserved bouquet compared to its peers, but still quite compelling, with crushed rock infusing the dried yellow flowers, white peach and chai tea scents. I could nose this all day. The very well-balanced palate is quite intense, offering a fine bead of acidity and plenty of tension and mineralité toward the saline finish. If was going to spend my money on one dry white Bordeaux tis year, it might well be this." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (05/2021), Ratings: 93-95, Drink: 2024-2040

Château Faugères 2018 - "The 2018 Faugères is fabulous. Silky and nuanced, the 2018 is striking right out of the gate. As I noted previously, the 2018 marks a transition to a more finessed style that is hugely appealing. There is plenty of the richness Faugères fans expect, but, at the same time, the wine is so well balanced and harmonious. Hints of rose petal, lavender, spice and dark fruits linger on the âmemorable close. The 2018 is an undeniably sexy wine." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (03/31/2023), Ratings: 96

Parusso Mosconi 2018 - "The Parusso 2018 Barolo Mosconi shows that distinctively stemmy element that I always associate with these wines so carefully made by Marco Parusso and his family. The bouquet is firm and powerful with dried cherry, steeped Darjeeling tea and persimmon. The wine is extra solid, both in terms of structure and tannins, and it follows up with an ample 15% alcohol content." - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate, (06/23/2022), Ratings: 94, Drink: 2025-2043

Château Marquis d'Alesme 2019 - "The 2019 Marquis d'Alesme Becker was very impressive from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained those engaging aromas of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and a pinch of spice, well defined and quintessentially Margaux. The palate is understated on the entry, smooth and sensual in texture, with gorgeous, very pure red fruit. I adore the harmony of this wine, and the way it sashays toward the finish. Deceptively approachable, this will mature beautifully in bottle." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (02/17/2022), Ratings: 95