Chateau Hyot Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux 2019

Region: Bordeaux, France

Grape Varieties: 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

There are many historic properties in Bordeaux but only this one can make the claim of hosting the ceremony that brought an end to the Hundred Years War in 1453. Chateau Hyot lies outside of the town of St. Emilion, adjacent to the site of the Battle of Castillon. This was the decisive French victory that forced the British off of French soil, excluding Calais, once and for all. Today the estate is owned by Alain Aubert, who treats the property with the same attention and care of many classified growths, even though the wine sells for less than twenty bucks.

During my recent trips to Bordeaux I am struck by the incredible value I am finding from properties in the Castillon region. This region lies north and east of the picturesque town of St. Emilion, with similar limestone rich soils than their famous neighbor. Due to elevation and distance from the Garonne river the area is a little cooler, so the wines do not quite develop the same body of the high price tag St. Emilion properties. However, in warm years like 2015 and 2016 the difference is not as much as you expect, and for a fraction of the price they are worth consideration.

Further pushing quality, Aubert employs none other than Michel Rolland as a consultant for this property. Rolland is the globe trotting consultant also responsible for Ornellaia, Dominus and Harlan just to name a few, so this may be the least expensive wine in the world on which he has his fingerprints. Even for this price the vineyard is cropped to low yields, the grapes are hand harvested, entirely destemmed and twice sorted before fermentation. To maintain the purity of fruit it is fermented in stainless steel, then aged in barrel twenty months. Not exactly the same attention to detail most properties go through for a wine selling for this price.

When you open this wine, make sure to decant it for half-hour before serving. This wine is quite a beauty for the price and you will want to take advantage of the complexity gained by letting it breathe. The nose displays a rich combination of sweet red cherries, fresh red plums, red licorice, milk chocolate and chanterelle mushroom. On the palate this wine shows a shockingly deep sense of fruit framed by creamy oak tannins and moderate acidity. You can drink this wine anytime over the next five years with pot roast, steaks or roast chicken.