# Château Layauga-Duboscq Cuvée Renaissance (2017)

- **Producer:** Château Layauga-Duboscq
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon 45%, Merlot 45%, Petit Verdot 10%
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Average price:** €14
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, strawberry, crushed cassis, red berry, green herb, chocolate, toast, sweet spice, cooked fruit, truffle, candied prune

## About this wine

Château Layauga-Duboscq Cuvée Renaissance is a distinguished red wine from the Médoc appellation in Bordeaux, France. This 'micro-cuvée' is a special, limited-production bottling from the estate's oldest and most prized vines, aged between 40 to 50 years. The estate is owned by Henri Duboscq and his sister Anne-Marie, who also manage the renowned Château Haut-Marbuzet. They recognized the unique potential of their two Médoc vineyard plots, characterized by gravelly soil over a limestone-clay base, and apply their family's extensive winemaking expertise to this cuvée. The vineyards are located in Gaillan and Queyrac, north of Saint-Estèphe. The 2017 vintage, despite facing climatic hurdles, has yielded a wine with notable structure.

## Interesting facts

- Vines for this cuvée are between 40-50 years old.
- Vineyards are situated on gravel over limestone clay soils.
- Winemaking includes grain-by-grain sorting.
- Monthly lees stirring (bâtonnage) is employed during aging.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-plus tannins and body are well-suited to complement the richness of proteins like lamb and beef, while its structure can cut through the fat in dishes like confit de canard. Herbal notes in the wine can echo those in seasoned dishes, and its dry profile makes it a versatile partner for savory, non-sweet main courses.

## Wine making process

The production of Château Layauga-Duboscq Cuvée Renaissance involves a highly detailed approach. Grapes undergo meticulous grain-by-grain sorting before fermentation and maceration in small, 60-hectoliter wooden vats. This is followed by aging in new oak barrels, where the wine is regularly stirred with its lees (bâtonnage) monthly to build texture and complexity. The estate employs sustainable viticulture practices, known as 'Agriculture Raisonnée,' which includes minimizing chemical treatments and actively ploughing vineyards to reduce herbicide reliance. These techniques reflect the Duboscq family's commitment to quality and environmental consciousness.