| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
From the brilliant proprietor Stephan von Neipperg, the 2010, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that hit 15% natural alcohol, is ripe and intense but exhibits good minerality and freshness as well as lots of blueberry and blackberry fruit, with hints of charcoal, licorice and asphalt. Rich and full-bodied, with no hard edges, this wine should drink beautifully for 10 or more years.
The good news for consumers is that there are over 11,500 cases of this wine, which was produced from the plateau of Saint Philippe d'Aiguilhe, planted on pure limestone and clay.
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, pH3.45 this has a very ripe, dark chocolate-tinged bouquet with good definition. The palate is sweet and rounded on the entry, smooth and harmonious in texture, not complex and just a little top-heavy towards the finish, but I think this will come together by the time of bottling. Good value for sure. Tasted March 2011.
This is so good already. What an amazing precision of fruit for this wine, with a blackberry and blueberry character as well as minerals. Full and super silky with lovely fruit. Gourmand. Tasty. I want to drink it. Always great value!
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Dark glowing crimson. Quite full and rich and round. Thick and sweet. Much over delivery. Masses of fun. An early developer.
Owned by Stephan von Neipperg of Canon la Gaffeliere and made under the supervision of Stephane Derenoncourt. This wine is produced from 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc just over the border in the Côtes de Castillon and is often better than many a Saint Emilion in blind tastings. This 2010 has one of the blackest colours that we saw. Viscous, dense and sweet with an almost Californian taste to it. Not typical claret but impressive stuff. Although rich and opulent it does not come across as being over-extracted.
It is very lush with lots of ripe fruit on the nose and chocolate richness on the palate. Behind the rich fleshy power there are some red fruits giving a fresher lighter feel towards the back.
Powerful constitution but attractive fruit and refined texture and tannins. Drink 2015-2022.
One of the best-run estates in the underrated and undervalued appellation of Cotes de Castillon is Chateau d'Aiguilhe, which is owned by Stephan von Neipperg. As with all of von Neipperg's wines, Stephane Derenoncourt is the consulting winemaker. The blend is usually 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, although I did not see the statistics on this particular vintage. The 2010 (10,000 cases produced) achieved 14% natural alcohol from modest yields of 34 hectoliters per hectare. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, lots of cassis, crushed rock and floral characteristics, a round, generous, savory, broadly textured style and sweet tannins. Drink it over the next decade.
