Bordeaux

This region was formerly known as Bordeaux Côtes de Castillon, and was classified in 1989. It lies in the east of the Bordeaux wine-growing region in France, directly adjoining Saint-Émilion. The vineyard area totals 3.000 hectares. It consists of the nine communes of Belvès-de-Castillon, Castillon-la-Bataille, Saint-Magne-de-Castillon, Gardegan-et-Tourtirac, Sainte-Colombe, Saint-Genès-de-Castillon, Saint-Philippe-d´Aiguilhe, Les Salles-de-Castillon and Monbadon. The name is derived from the city of Castillon-la-Bataille on the Dordogne river, where the decisive battle was fought in 1453, ending 300 years of British rule in Aquitaine, which then finally reverted to French rule. More than half the vineyard area is planted with Merlot, other permitted varieties are Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. These varieties are used to make deep-coloured, full-bodied red wines with considerable maturation potential. Well-known estates include Château d´Aiguilhe, Château Cap de Faugères, Château Castegens, Château Clos L´Eglise, Château Fongaban, Château La Clariére-Laithwaite, Château Lardit, Château Haut-Tuquet, Château Moulin-Rouge, Château Pitray, Château Roquevielle, Château Sainte-Colombe and Château Thibaud-Bellevue.