Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU MOULIN DE LAUNAY: 150 YEARS OF EXPERTISE IN PRODUCING ELEGANT WHITE WINES

CHÂTEAU MOULIN DE LAUNAY

We meet Ludovic Greffier, the dynamic owner of the estate.

Quality and Respect for the Environment

Château Moulin de Launay takes its name from the Butte de Launay, the highest point in Gironde, around which it has been established for five generations. The Greffier family has cared for the estate for over 150 years, producing exclusively white wines. The first bottled sale dates back to 1979. At that time, many winemakers were uprooting their white grape varieties to replant red ones. Ludovic Greffier's grandfather opposed this trend, allowing the Greffier vineyards to become specialists in dry white wines and a reference in Entre-Deux-Mers over the years. In 2016, Ludovic fully took over the estate to focus on producing quality wines, just as his ancestors did before him. After studying management/accounting and then commercial studies, Ludovic spent more than 10 years as an automotive sales representative and then as a hardware sales representative, traveling the roads of Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne. Wanting a career change and personal challenge, he returned to help his father on the family estate in 2013. He undertook oenology and vineyard management training at the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture while learning the trade on the ground with his father, who passed on his expertise. It was a successful bet, as in 2016, Ludovic fully took over the estate to continue the tradition of producing quality wines, just like his ancestors.

On the estate's clay-limestone soils, characteristic of the Entre-Deux-Mers region, six different grape varieties are planted: Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, Muscadelle, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard. To ensure quality, he practices total grass cover and maintains low yields, not exceeding 3,300 vines per hectare. This allows him to easily control the ripeness of each grape variety. Concerned about the environment, the estate committed last year to the SME (Environmental Management System) charter to eventually achieve dual ISO 140001 and HVE 3 (High Environmental Value level 3) certification. "We are all involved and engaged in this approach to reduce environmental impacts while protecting the biodiversity present on the estate," Ludovic explains. Indeed, Ludovic and his team work closely with the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels (CEN) of Aquitaine to monitor the evolution of the fauna and flora on the Butte de Launay. They have identified more than 18 species of orchids, including 4 species unique to France. They also preserve the daffodils, tulips, and daffodils that grow naturally amidst the estate's vineyards.

The Grape Varieties in the Spotlight

In his ongoing quest for quality, Ludovic aims to achieve the best expression of his terroir. With six different grape varieties on the estate, he can create complex blends. This is the case with Château Moulin de Launay, composed of 45% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Sauvignon Gris, 15% Muscadelle, and 5% Ugni Blanc. With its pale yellow hue, this white wine delights with its citrus and white flower aromas, along with its freshness. "Sémillon adds volume, Sauvignon brings a nice aromatic complexity, and Muscadelle contributes floral notes in the finish," Ludovic explains. This cuvée pairs perfectly with a seafood platter, sole meunière, white meats, or fresh cheese. The cuvée "Le 5 des Vignobles Greffier," named in honor of the five generations of the Greffier family who have succeeded one another on the estate, is a blend of Sauvignon, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. This white wine is aged for 8 months on stave to add complexity and a slight oakiness. The result is surprising, with peach and citrus aromas along with woody notes in a fresh and elegant ensemble. This wine is ideal with chipirons, seafood, or white meats in sauce. The newest creation is the Muscadelle cuvée, a 100% Muscadelle wine with a crystalline pale yellow color and notes of citrus, exotic fruits, and peach with great finesse. This elegant wine is the perfect companion to a scallop carpaccio. This latest cuvée is part of a broader project to highlight single-varietal wines. Indeed, Ludovic plans to showcase the estate's grape varieties by creating a 100% Sauvignon cuvée by 2019 and working on Colombard by 2020. As you can see, Ludovic Greffier is forging his own path while respecting the environment to present fruity, elegant, and refreshing wines!