Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Monbadon Castle is one of the last surviving examples of medieval military architecture in Gironde. It was indeed at the beginning of the Hundred Years' War, April 24, 1330, that Edward III, King of England, gave "license" to Indie de Monbadon to fortify this advanced post Guyenne to monitor the valleys of Isle and Dordogne. Since 1602, under the reign of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, the same family still owns the entire estate.
The vineyard of 25 hectares (20 of which are currently in production) is located for the most part on a clay-limestone plateau in the rocky subsoil whose altitude is 109 meters above sea level, very close to a of the two highest points of the Gironde: 114 meters.
Though the region is larger than many of its Right Bank neighbors, it is one that consistently produces high quality, well-valued red wines. In fact, Cotes de Castillon can almost be considered a geographical eastern extension of St. Emilion, producing similarly-fashioned reds based on Merlot.
Vineyards in the region’s clay, limestone and sandstone soils produce sturdy red wines. On alluvial terraces, in vineyards closer to the Dordogne River, wines tend to be more supple and fruity. In either case, a great Cotes de Castillon red will be bursting with raspberry, plum and blueberry, have an enticing bouquet of dried flowers and a finish that is plush and opulent.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.