feature / Burgundy Portrait / Eléonore Latour


ELÉONORE LATOUR


by Jon Wyand I


started photographing Louis-Fabrice Latour almost as soon as his father retired. I had first, nervously and rapidly, made a portrait of Louis standing in the courtyard of his offices in Rue des Tonneliers in Beaune in 1979, probably the work of only a minute. These


days I hope for longer. Louis-Fabrice was patient but preferred the picture-taking to be over swiftly. I used to say, “It’s better than the dentist…” But I’m not sure he ever agreed. I always managed to find something I liked and kept things simple. The quicker and more continuously you work, the harder it is for a reluctant sitter to call a halt. Some tried… Louis-Fabrice never did.


After the shock of his “disappearance,” as the French refer to it, I had no idea who would take over but tried to be quick in securing some pictures of his successor. Well, Eléonore Latour came up with the unexpected but unimpeachable excuse of law exams. I immediately realized I should be more patient and maintain the good relations I had. Sometimes a new generation can want to keep you at bay. Fortunately, Bruno Pepin, Latour’s marketing director (whom I had got to know during his days at Bouchard Père & Fils, when I regularly visited Joseph Henriot), helped me get my timing right and even took on the role of chaperone when I secured an appointment with Eléonore at Latour’s iconic cuverie in Aloxe-Corton. It seemed obvious to choose a location with an important link to the Latour heritage, and it has not changed since I first saw it 45 years ago. Just as I arrived, Eléonore emerged from her car, followed by Bruno, who made the introductions. The idea that I was photographing the third generation seemed to interest both of us equally, and she was keen to hear of my history with Latour.


When you look at a 26-year-old woman about to enter the world of wine under such circumstances, you must see the intelligence and other strengths, not the youth and inexperience. She knows she won’t be able to fake anything in her new role, that she will be tested; that she will need to negotiate prejudices, as well as illuminate positives. I was afraid there might be a rather uphill battle, but Eléonore chose to take it all on with little preparation save being her father’s daughter, and that was perfectly apparent—except for his discomfort in front of the camera. She was absolutely at ease, quietly confident, but under no illusions about the task ahead. Her approachability, humility, intelligence, and sense of humor will overcome much that lies ahead. Photographers will certainly be dealt with effortlessly, painlessly, and (I hope) successfully. That’s all I can say. The rest will follow.


100 | THE WORLD OF FINE WINE | ISSUE 87 | 2025


Picture Credit


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220