We arrive embarrassed as we were slightly too late, and responding to our excuses, Mr. Duboscq gave a hint of a smile and said: “Here you are at the end of the world, nobody arrives on time!”. Château Laujac is a magnificent secret with 18th and 19th century buildings, oxen parks and a beautiful park. The Laujac site has recently been listed in the Supplementary Inventory of the French Historical Monuments. A fair tribute to the Cruses who, in 1852, extended the vineyards of Laujac and undertook very important modernization and embellishment works with the help of their famous directors: the Skawinski.
This binding classification helped preserve the beautiful property in this northern part of Médoc wrongfully qualified less glamorous. We enter the yard of a wine grower and livestock breeder, the host recalls the importance of this activity, evidenced by the presence of 400 cattle and 170 calves. All in all Laujac consists of 400 hectares, including 80 hectares of vineyards.
We turn our back on the stables and contemplate the majestic winery of Château Laujac built in 1875. The host, very gentleman farmer, evokes an ideal setting for the farming of a vineyard: an estuary at 6 km, an ocean at 20 km and a soil with deep gravels. In his “Topography of all known vineyards”, Jullien even recognizes analogies with the wines of Pauillac ... Mr. Duboscq says that nothing was easy, that they had to rebuild a heritage somewhat mishandled that passed under ten hectares before the war, to restructure aging teams in 2012 and reconquer a market that logically turned away from a declining production. It was said that Château Laujac would be able to rely on the very beautiful 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages.
In the large tasting room that offers a breathtaking view of the meadows and the vineyards, Paolo Basso, Best Sommelier of the World, indeed returned to the great 2014, which displays tannins of great finesse and a very beautiful material. It is exceptional and in many ways a vintage of reconquest and a welcome breath that succeeded the annus horribilis 2013
Henry Clemens
Château Laujac 2015, Médoc
Beautiful fruity note with aromas of cherries, sloes, peony, licorice and blackberries. Nice attack with a fairly good volume, a growing development towards a mid-palate with body of medium structure, high acidity. Long finish with a certain astringency but without bitterness. A wine that will have a positive evolution in the bottle. Aging: 2021-2030.
Château Laujac 2016, Médoc
Well balanced nose between the aromas of the fruits and the contribution of aging: blackcurrant, black cherries, sweet spices, smokiness. Very nice fist taste, rich and powerful, with a beautiful volume revealing a good sweetness. A well-built mid-palate, fairly rich tannins. A beautiful intense and persistent finish, quite expressive. A wine with a good development potential. Aging: 2023-2030.
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