Domaine de Ladoucette

History

Family ownership since the late 18th century

The Comtes Lafond family has owned vineyards in the Pouilly-Fumé region since the end of the 18th century. The family holding is presented as the region’s largest and most reputed vineyard estate. Comte Lafond, an ancestor of Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, came from Burgundy and was the first member of the lineage to acquire vineyards in the Loire, seeking to diversify the family’s viticultural properties.

Baron Patrick de Ladoucette and Baron de L

Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, a descendant of the Comtes Lafond, continued the family’s commitment to quality after roughly two centuries of viticultural history. In the early 1970s he created Baron de L, a rare Sauvignon blanc cuvée intended to express exceptional work and terroir. It is made only in exceptional vintages and is characterized by finesse and breadth.

A special Pouilly-Fumé bottling named 200ème vendange marked the family’s 200th harvest in the 2017 vintage.

Expansion beyond Pouilly-Fumé

Baron Patrick subsequently extended his activity into Sancerre. He retained the Comte Lafond name for the family’s principal Sancerre cuvées and presented them in distinctive bottles inspired by 18th-century flasks used by his ancestor.

In 1993 he acquired Clos de la Poussie when the historic Sancerre vineyard came onto the market. Its naturally amphitheatrical, fully south-facing site subsequently provided the basis for the separate Haut de la Poussie cuvée.

18th centuryComte Lafond, originally from Burgundy, became the first member of the lineage to purchase vineyards in the Loire, diversifying the family’s viticultural properties.

Late 18th centuryThe Comtes Lafond family established ownership of its Pouilly-Fumé vineyard holdings.

Early 1970sBaron Patrick de Ladoucette created Baron de L, a rare Sauvignon blanc cuvée reserved for exceptional vintages.

SubsequentlyBaron Patrick de Ladoucette expanded into Sancerre, retained the Comte Lafond name for major cuvées and adopted bottles inspired by 18th-century family flasks.

1993Baron Patrick de Ladoucette acquired the separate Clos de la Poussie vineyard in Sancerre; its south-facing natural amphitheatre became the basis for Haut de la Poussie.

2017The 200ème vendange Pouilly-Fumé commemorated the family’s 200th harvest.

Terroir

Domaine de Ladoucette is based at Château du Nozet in Pouilly-sur-Loire. Its wines belong to AOC Pouilly-Fumé and are made from Sauvignon blanc. Baron de L is conceived as a selective expression of the estate’s work and terroir and is produced only in exceptional vintages.

Philosophy

Domaine de Ladoucette’s identity is grounded in continuity, quality and the transmission of a family viticultural tradition extending over more than two centuries. Baron Patrick de Ladoucette’s approach preserved that lineage while adding highly selective cuvées. Baron de L embodies this principle: it is intended to concentrate the expression of work and terroir and is released only when the vintage is considered exceptional. The use of the Comte Lafond family name and bottle forms inspired by 18th-century ancestral flasks also reflects an emphasis on historical continuity.