Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 

2020

Region:

Bordeaux

ESTATE HISTORY 

Château Hyot’s historical roots trace back to the French Revolution, when its grounds served as a hideout for political refugees fleeing south. Today, the estate is owned by seventh-generation winemaker Alain Aubert and his family, who incorporated the property into Domaines Alain Aubert—a highly respected Right Bank wine group that combines centuries of traditional Bordeaux winemaking with modern vineyard management.

TERROIR

Nestled on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, the vineyard benefits from a ideal microclimate created by the nearby Dordogne River, which tempers summer extremes and guards against early frost. The land features a rich mosaic of deep clay and limestone soils mixed with gravel, providing exceptional natural drainage and forcing deep root systems. This combination yields Merlot and Cabernet vines with intense concentration, vibrant fresh acidity, and a distinct flinty mineral character.

VITICULTURE 

Vineyard management centers on sustainable farming and meticulous canopy control to optimize fruit concentration and health. Guided by double Guyot pruning, the team performs precise green operations—including debudding, suckering, leaf removal, and targeted green harvests—to manage yields and maximize sun exposure for even ripening. With an average vine age of around 40 to 45 years, the mature root systems naturally limit production to low yields, concentrating the flavors in the berries. Picking decisions rely on rigorous taste and analytical testing across individual plots, ensuring grapes are harvested at ideal phenolic maturity, either manually or via careful mechanical sorting.

WINEMAKING

The craft relies on a balance of modern temperature-controlled technology and traditional Bordeaux cellaring. Grapes are harvested at peak ripeness, fully destemmed, and fermented in stainless steel vats to preserve the natural, vibrant purity of the fruit. The young wine then undergoes extended maceration to extract smooth, supple tannins before aging for roughly 10 to 12 months in French oak barrels—a mix of new and seasoned wood. This careful maturation imparts delicate toasted, vanilla, and spicy notes without overpowering the core fruit, producing a polished wine with integrated structure and immediate approachability.

TASTING & FOOD PAIRINGS 

Dark, ripe fruit aromas of blackberry and crushed plum blend with subtle notes of toasted oak, dried herbs, and an earthy, flinty minerality. On the palate, it delivers a smooth, medium-bodied structure with balanced acidity and fine-grained tannins that frame a rich black-fruit core. It pairs effortlessly with heartier dishes like roasted pork, grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb with rosemary, or aged cheeses like Comté and Gouda.