Winemaker Notes
Nicolas Thienpont acquired three hectares in the Côtes de Castillon in July 2011. The vines are located on the top of the limestone plateau, with rock beneath red clay. In January 2014, the vineyard grew to 6.5 hectares with new plots not far from Saint-Philippe-d’Aiguille, on a limestone plateau alternating between compact clay and very shallow soils. The wine has become more rounded with a denser texture, supplementing the finesse, sophistication and minerality of this new cru.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very floral and beautiful wine with salt and iron. It’s medium-bodied with firm tannins and a iron-like finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from the Castillon region and based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Alcée is another brilliant wine from the Thienpont team. Lots of red and black fruits, white truffle, spice, and some floral notes all emerge from this incredibly elegant, medium-bodied, finesse-driven 2020. It shows lots of limestone character, and I suspect it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age. It should evolve nicely through 2032.
Rating: 92+ -
Decanter
Smooth and supple, lots of milk chocolate, salty stones, liquorice and clove joining the blackcurrant, plum and blueberry fruit. Dark yet fresh, the fruit playing with the minerality and a core of really fine but firm tannins. Nice structure and definition, with a hint of sweetness and juicy acidity giving the energy. I like this. A good showing for Castillon.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Alcée offers up notes of cherry, cassis, violet and dark berries, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and supple, with terrific concentration allied with racy acids.
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.
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.