Chateau L De Laffite Laujac Medoc 2018

Chateau L De Laffite Laujac Medoc 2018 is a full-bodied Bordeaux red wine from the Médoc appellation, bottled at 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot earned a Gold Medal at the 2023 Berlin Wine Trophy and scored 90.5 points from Falstaff magazine, signaling a vintage with real depth and structure from a historic Left Bank estate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Médoc, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Estate: Château Laffitte Laujac

Production & Heritage

Château Laffitte Laujac sits in the northern Médoc, where the estate draws from two distinct geological formations that define its house style. Limestone clay soils from the Tertiary era support the Merlot vines, yielding generous and concentrated fruit, while fine Pliocene-Quaternary gravels provide the well-draining terrain where Cabernet Sauvignon thrives. Grapes are de-stemmed, sorted by plot, and vinified in temperature-controlled vats, followed by a three-to-four-week post-fermentation maceration to extract color, tannin, and complexity before blending.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe blackcurrant and plum before shifting to black cherry and pine needle aromatics. A secondary layer of milk chocolate, cocoa powder, and subtle earthy undertones rounds out a bouquet that balances fruit and oak.

Taste: The palate entry is dense and fruit-forward, with concentrated red and dark fruit flavors taking center stage. At mid-palate, menthol notes emerge alongside grainy, powerful tannins that provide structural grip. The 2018 vintage shows clear maturity, with mild acidity allowing the full-bodied, fleshy character to dominate.

Finish: The finish is medium-long with persistent cocoa and dark berry flavors anchored by firm but resolved tannins. A lingering spice note and gentle earthiness complete the experience cleanly.

How to Drink L De Laffite Laujac

This Médoc drinks best at cellar temperature, around 16–18°C (61–64°F), and benefits from 30 minutes of decanting to soften the tannins and open the aromatics. It is primarily a wine for the dinner table rather than the cocktail shaker, but its structure lends itself to several wine-based preparations. A classic Bordeaux-style Sangria works well here, as the dark fruit and spice hold up against citrus and brandy. It also anchors a Vin Chaud (mulled wine) in cooler months, where its cocoa and berry depth pairs naturally with cinnamon and star anise. For a lighter option, a Claret Cobbler — shaken with orange and sugar over crushed ice — highlights the wine's fruit-forward generosity.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring red meat, lamb, or hearty stews
• Introducing someone to Left Bank Bordeaux without a steep investment
• Building a small cellar of approachable Médoc vintages
• Gifting a Bordeaux enthusiast an award-winning, under-the-radar bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What does L De Laffite Laujac taste like? It delivers concentrated dark fruit — blackcurrant, plum, and black cherry — with cocoa, menthol freshness, and firm grainy tannins. The 2018 vintage shows a full-bodied, dense structure with mild acidity and earthy depth.

How does L De Laffite Laujac compare to other Médoc AOC wines? At a 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot split, it leans slightly more fruit-generous than many Médoc blends that favor higher Cabernet percentages. Its Gold Medal at the Berlin Wine Trophy and 90.5-point Falstaff score place it among the stronger performers in its tier within the appellation.

Is L De Laffite Laujac good for sipping on its own? Yes — its ripe fruit, balanced tannins, and full body make it enjoyable neat, especially after a brief decant to let the cocoa and spice aromatics fully develop.

Where is L De Laffite Laujac made? It is produced at Château Laffitte Laujac in the Médoc sub-region of Bordeaux, on the Left Bank of the Gironde estuary in southwestern France. The estate's vineyards sit on a mix of limestone clay and fine gravel soils characteristic of the northern Médoc.

What foods pair well with L De Laffite Laujac? Grilled lamb chops work naturally with the firm tannins and dark fruit. Duck confit mirrors its richness and earthy notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese echoes the cocoa undertones. Braised short ribs match the wine's density and body. Roasted root vegetables with herbs complement the subtle spice and menthol character.

What sizes does L De Laffite Laujac come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this wine.

Is L De Laffite Laujac worth the price? It positions as an accessible, entry-to-mid-level Médoc Bordeaux that consistently punches above its price tier — a Gold Medal and a 90.5-point Falstaff score for a wine at this level represent genuine value for everyday Bordeaux drinking.

Why L De Laffite Laujac?

The 2018 vintage is widely regarded as one of Bordeaux's strongest recent years, and this bottling captures that quality at an approachable tier. Its dual-terroir vineyard — limestone clay for Merlot concentration and fine gravel for Cabernet precision — gives the blend a complexity that straightforward Médoc wines often lack. The Gold Medal at the Berlin Wine Trophy and a Falstaff score of 90.5 points confirm that this is not a generic appellation wine but a focused, well-made Bordeaux with genuine character. For drinkers who want Left Bank structure without the premium commune markup of Margaux or Saint-Julien, this is a serious contender.