Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Laussac has a detailed, quite complex bouquet with lifted blackberry and cedar aromas, very expressive and welcoming. The palate is clean and fresh, very well balanced with grainy tannin, pure black and red fruit, and is beautifully poised with an elegant finish that is an absolute delight. Expect this to land at the top of my banded score - absolutely superb. Barrel Sample: 91-93 Points
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Château De Laussac comes from the Michel Rolland team and is a seriously good Côtes de Castillon worth seeking out. Black raspberries, toasted spiced, graphite, and balsam wood nuances all give way to a ripe, fleshy, medium to full-bodied, incredibly delicious beauty that should drink well for upwards of a decade.
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James Suckling
Some quite ripe character here. This has a core of dark berries and plum fruits all strapped in with thick, ripe tannins. Dark chocolate and cherry liqueur to close. Try from 2020.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Though the region is larger than many of its Right Bank neighbors, it is one that consistently produces high quality, well-valued red wines. In fact, Cotes de Castillon can almost be considered a geographical eastern extension of St. Emilion, producing similarly-fashioned reds based on Merlot.
Vineyards in the region’s clay, limestone and sandstone soils produce sturdy red wines. On alluvial terraces, in vineyards closer to the Dordogne River, wines tend to be more supple and fruity. In either case, a great Cotes de Castillon red will be bursting with raspberry, plum and blueberry, have an enticing bouquet of dried flowers and a finish that is plush and opulent.