Hugues Laborde
Independent Winemaker – Agronomist Engineer Director of Wine Estates in Bordeaux
Discover our Wines
Origins and Education
Born in 1993 in Auch, in the Gers region of southwest France, I am deeply connected to my Gascon roots. From a family of Spanishorigin farmers settled in Gascony, I grew up surrounded by mixed farming—cereals, vineyards, and livestock—which shaped my grounded and sensitive approach to agriculture. After earning a science baccalaureate and completing preparatory classes, I joined the Purpan School of Engineering in Toulouse, where I specialized in viticulture. Driven by a desire to broaden my perspective, I continued my studies in the United States at Cornell University (New York State), where I earned a master’s degree in Viticulture & Enology.
Experience in Bordeaux’s Great Terroirs
My career began at a prestigious estate: Baron Philippe de Rothschild in Pauillac. I worked on three Grands Crus Classés of the Médoc—Château Mouton Rothschild, Château d’Armailhac, and Château Clerc Milon—in close collaboration with Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, now General Technical Director. During two vintages (2015–2016), I discovered the rigorous precision and consistency required by great Bordeaux wines.
Eager to explore new horizons, I moved to the Right Bank in 2017 to join Château Lassègue, a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion, led by Pierre Seillan. This internationally renowned winemaker, whose wines have received 100/100 scores from Robert Parker, became a mentor. Also originally from the Gers, he taught me a refined understanding of limestone soils— their freshness, longevity, and the importance of an intuitive winemaking approach, grounded more in the land than in dogma.
My Vision: Diverse, Vibrant, and Accessible Bordeaux Wines ux’s Great Terroirs
At the end of 2017, I left classified growths to join an ambitious entrepreneurial project alongside Jean Pierre Derouet, owner of several Bordeaux estates. We share a common ambition: to evolve the image of Bordeaux wines, often perceived as traditional and austere.
We undertook a complete restructuring of our vineyards in Fronsac, Saint-Émilion, and the Entredeux-Mers: uprooting vines from low-potential plots, replanting on promising soils, and transforming farming practices. My role quickly expanded from technical director to overseeing global strategy—production, marketing, and sales.
In 2022, I acquired the majority share of the company. Today, I manage 150 hectares, producing around 1 million bottles, across a portfolio of 25 wines.
Our Wine Style
Our approach is based on three pillars:
1. Revealing Terroirs – We highlight soil variations (clay, limestone, gravel) to craft wines with distinct personalities, each expressing the uniqueness of its plot.
2. Honest & Drinkable Wines – Freshness, fruit, and drinkability. Our Bordeaux wines aren’t meant to impress, but to bring people together through emotion.
3. Controlled Diversity – 25 labels, from AOP to branded wines, from ageworthy grands vins to easy-drinking cuvées—a response to the complexity of international markets.
A Global Outlook
Thanks to my international background and an export vision centered on intercultural dialogue, I see every wine as a bridge—connecting a place, a story, and a market.
Our mission : to help rediscover Bordeaux through its diversity, modernity, and vibrant terroirs.