Winemaker Notes
Arnaud de Raignac has developed a collaborative partnership with renowned wine consultant Stefano Chioccioli, who is responsible for the overall direction and style of the wines at Chateau de Launay. Crop levels are severly restricted to between ½ - 1 pound of grapes per vine (equivalent to less than one bottle of wine per vine!) Time honored, traditional and sustainable viticultural methods are employed, including green cropping between rows. During harvest, grapes are scrupulously selected and 100% hand picked, then delivered to a cool location within 4 minutes for additional hand sorting.
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.