André Lurton, a Bordeaux winemaker, leads Les Vignobles André Lurton, a family-owned company with a 63-year history that manages more than 3,000 acres of vineyards and 27 estates.
Also born in Bordeaux, Michel Rolland is a world-renowned oenologist who consults for over 100 wineries around the globe. Many of the wines he helps craft sell at premium prices; some have been reviewed at values reaching into the hundreds of dollars per bottle.
Unusually, Lurton engaged Rolland to consult on the red wines of three of his châteaux even though these wines are priced well below the lofty levels associated with many of Rolland’s consulting projects. The most expensive among these examples rarely exceeds $50, and one is commonly found for about $20.
The $20 standout is Château Bonnet Réserve 2012, a balanced, equal blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows a deep color and pronounced fruit that carries from the aroma through to the palate and finish, complemented by gentle notes of vanilla and spice.
At roughly $27, Château de Rochemorin 2012 is another noteworthy bottle from André Lurton. The wine is rich and approachable, offering attractive fruit flavors supported by a discreet oak influence.
Château La Louvière, located just south of the city of Bordeaux in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, is among Lurton’s most interesting estates. The 2012 vintage is ripe and aromatic, with a lush, well-balanced profile, typically priced around $39. The 2010 vintage is more concentrated and still carries firm tannins; it presents red-berry aromas, a hint of spice, medium body and a medium-long finish. Given the quality of the 2010, its usual market price—often around $39, sometimes between $24 and $43—represents strong value for a fine Bordeaux.
I also sampled Château La Louvière 1986, a 30-year-old bottle that retains an intense nose and a silky, mellow palate. Its aromatic profile blends vanilla and oak in a refined, mature expression. This older vintage can be found starting at approximately $30.