Louis-Fabrice Latour (1964 – 2022)

Louis-Fabrice Latour of Burgundy's Maison Louis Latour, passed away from cancer on 5 September 2022 at the age of 58. His colleague and good friend, Mitchell Taylor pays tribute to him.

It was very sad to hear of the tragic passing of my dear friend, Louis-Fabrice Latour- a giant of the wine world and pioneer of French Wine, especially Burgundy. It was always a pleasure to see his smiling friendly face on his home turf of Beaune or out in the wine trade tirelessly educating people about the quality of fine Burgundy wine.

Louis-Fabrice joined the family business in 1989 after a successful career in finance and he took over control of the family business in 1999. He was a champion of Burgundy wine being President of the Federation of Burgundy Negociants (2003-2014), President of the Federation of Wine and Spirit Exporters (2011-2014) and also President of the Bureau Interprofessional des Vins de Bourgogne (2013-2021). He spent many months of the year travelling in key export markets explaining the nuances and quality of fine Burgundy wine.

He was also a great visionary, making sure Maison Louis Latour had ISO 14001 certification in 2003. He could see the impact of climate change on Burgundy and purchased vineyards in “the North” acquiring Simonnet-Febvre in Chablis as well as in other new winemaking regions with the acquisition of Henry Fessy in Beaujolais.

Louis-Fabrice was always great company with a unique sense of humour and an astute business mind. We shared many similarities including birth years, a passion for fine wine and our parallel careers within a family business in the global world of wine. We started working together with a successful agency arrangement in the UK market with his distribution company Louis Latour UK Limited. His insights into this market, and many around the world, were invaluable.

We have for many years imported his wonderful barrels from his own cooperage, owned by the family for many centuries. It was how the Latour family started working in the wine Industry. The quality of the barrels has been outstanding over the years and it was always a joy to personally visit the cooperage with Louis-Fabrice, as he would explain with pride the details of making top quality barrels, and all the extra details that helped make them so unique and special.

Our Chardonnays have won many trophies and accolades in international wine competitions, and we would always joke together whether it was the barrels or wine that led to the outstanding results….I suspect it was the unique combination of both.

Louis-Fabrice was always positive and forward looking in attitude in solving the key issues that face the ever changing wine world. I will miss his charming friendship and engaging sense of humour. To share a meal with Louis-Fabrice was a celebration of all good things in life and sharing ideas and passions on how things could evolve for better outcomes. He was looking forward to visiting Australia and its unique wine country but alas his time was cut short.

My sincere condolences to his beautiful wife Patricia and four young children Eleonore, Louis, Victor and Gaspard.

Vale Louis, may you rest in peace and thank you for your generosity in heart and sharing all the experience and expertise that you acquired over your young and extraordinary life.