2020 Bordeaux Graves Red | Château Lassalle

Château Lassalle’s history began in 1947 when Marie-Antoinette and Louis Labbé, both from families of winegrowers, united their estates in the Bordeaux Graves region. Together, they managed 7 hectares of Graves and 5 hectares of Bordeaux vineyards. At the time, traditional methods dominated, with vines worked by horse and winemaking done in early concrete tanks.

Their son Michel Labbé joined the family estate in the 1960s, bringing modernisation and innovation. Over the decades, Michel phased out livestock to focus fully on viticulture, expanded the vineyard to 16.5 hectares, and introduced stainless steel tanks and temperature control for better winemaking precision. The vineyard evolved from mostly white grape varieties—Sémillon, Muscadelle, and Ugni Blanc—to include red grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot starting in 1999.

Initially, wines were sold primarily in bulk to Bordeaux negociants, but since 2005, Fabien Lalanne has taken the helm with his wife Perrine, who brought experience from a Premier Cru Sauternes estate. Together, they expanded the estate’s offerings, creating more diverse wines (white, red, rosé) to reach both professional and private clients.

Committed to environmental stewardship, Fabien introduced sustainable vineyard practices—cover crops, natural treatments, soil work—and invested in eco-friendly winemaking technologies, earning the estate the High Environmental Value (HVE) certification in 2017.

Today, Château Lassalle is recognised in French and international media, with wines distributed throughout France, Europe, and beyond. Their mission continues to be the celebration and promotion of the unique terroir of Graves through wines that balance fruit expression and terroir authenticity.

Tasting Notes:
60% Cabernet Sauvignon/40% Merlot blend, this wine displays a deep ruby red color. The expressive nose reveals aromas of dark fruits intertwined with toasty notes. Generous on the palate, it features elegant tannins and a long, spicy finish.