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Château Laffitte Carcasset, Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois

Other, France 2015 (750mL)
$32.00
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Château Laffitte Carcasset, Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois

Saint-Estèphe in the legendary 2015 vintage has proved to be a showstopper. This combination of year and place is flaunting luxurious purity and a decidedly powerful terroir imprint. Of course, there is a caveat: Prices have raced skyward in a hurry. To combat these lofty numbers we have (1) directly imported from Bordeaux and (2) turned our attention to the road-less-traveled ‘Cru Bourgeois’ labels.
From our sleuthing, we emerged with Château Laffitte Carcasse, a centuries-old estate whose vineyards are short jogs to the “Super Second” Growths of Cos d’Estournel ($200+) and Montrose ($150+). This is the Bordeaux we crave, as it perfectly epitomizes the storied Left Bank terroir and the luxurious textures from the record-breaking 2015 vintage. Truth be told, today’s extraordinary wine landed in our warehouse over a year ago, but like parents watching their children venture out of the nest for the first time, we didn’t want to see them go! Ultimately, however, you are the one who benefits: With an extra year of bottle age, this world-class expression of blue-chip Bordeaux has gained an extra savory layer that is fully ready to be enjoyed now. All this, for a stunningly low price—that’s the magnificent power of value Bordeaux. 
Saint-Estèphe, Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien—these big four appellations combine to create the “Grand Cru” cluster of classic Left Bank Bordeaux. Tasting a wine from a storied terroir such as Saint-Éstephe is an extraordinary experience that cannot be replicated outside the region. Once you do finally locate that bottle, and still have a padded wallet, that’s the turning point—the switch that opens your eyes to breathtaking wine experiences.

Château Laffitte Carcasset shares one degree of separation from King Louis XVI: It was founded by his personal attorney, Jean Laffitte, in 1759. As for the second half of the estate’s name, the original plot of vines was planted in “Le Carcasset,” a centralized area in the heart of Saint-Estèphe. Even with a number of ownership- and name-changes (as is commonplace in Bordeaux), the château has remained a Cru Bourgeois since 1932. Today, the 35-hectare property is run by Pierre Rousseau, who employs the consulting genius of Hubert de Boüard, co-owner of Château Angélus. 

Laffitte Carcasset’s Grand Vin is a Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy blend with a healthy portion of Merlot and just a touch of Cabernet Franc. Their mature vines are planted on a plateau rich with classic gravelly clay soils and harvesting is carried out by hand. Only 30% new French oak is used for 12 months in order to preserve the purity of terroir and grape typicity. In the glass, the wine reveals deep ruby with flecks of hazy garnet. A gorgeous combination of crushed rocks, black cherry, and purple flowers initially blast out—announcing the 2015 vintage loud and clear—before creating a path for red and black plums, cassis, leather, cigar box, and a pleasant dusting of spice. The palate is full and voluptuously layered, although it never once forgets its origin: the ancient, gravelly banks of Bordeaux. As such, the wine drinks like a classic top-tier Left Bank, revealing wonderful intensity and supple complexity on the palate. Its concoction of black-red fruits are deep and savory, with a brilliant infusion of crushed stone minerality that lingers endlessly on the finish. Overall, this $32 stunner is in an incredible spot today: Just give it a quick 30-minute decant before impressing your friends, and then pull the cork on your remainders over the next 5-8 years. Polish the Bordeaux stems and fire up the grill for some medium-rare lamb chops—it’s one heck of a pairing. Cheers!
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Country
France
Region
Other
Sub-Region
FranceSaint-Estèphe
Soil
Gravelly Clay
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Franc 5%
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
30% New French Barrels
TEMP.
65
Glassware
Bordeaux Stem
Drinking
Now-2025
Decanting
15-30 Minutes
Pairing
Grilled Lamb Chops

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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