Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Laussac has a charming if slightly rustic bouquet that is well defined and fresh. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, quite classic in style with plenty of undergrowth-infused black fruit towards the finish, but I like the length and its nascent stubbornness. This could well turn out to be a very delicious Côtes de Castillon. Rating: 89-91
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Jeb Dunnuck
Cherries, light oak, and spice notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Laussac. It's medium-bodied, supple, and elegant with a charming, balanced style that's going to keep for 5-7 years at a minimum.
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James Suckling
Rich ripe dark plums and berries with cocoa powder and roasting herbs in the nose. Offers a wealth of succulent and fine tannins with crunchy dark plums to close. A blend of 75 per cent merlot and 25 per cent cabernet franc.
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.