Domaine de l'A
Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux
Non classif.
This estate belongs to Stéphane Derenoncourt, a famous consulting enologist since the 1990s.
He and his wife Christine lavish the greatest of care on their beautiful 8-hectare vineyard in the Côtes de Castillon, with limestone and clay-limestone soil.
Viticulture is biodynamic, and this meticulous, natural approach carries over to winemaking. Winegrowing techniques include: green cover, disking, a plot-by-plot approach to vineyard management according to soil type, low yields, hand picking into small crates so as not to bruise the fruit, and fermentation of uncrushed grapes in wooden vats.
Extraction is gentle and helped by punching down the cap in truncated cone-shaped wooden vats. The wine is aged in barrel on the lees, as naturally as possible, without racking, and neither fined nor filtered.
Domaine de l'A is undoubtedly one of the rising stars in the Côtes de Castillon appellation. It is very elegant and succeeds wonderfully in reflecting this appellation's considerable potential.
In the Bottle
Stéphane Derenoncourt relies on the same experience and expertise at his own estate that he applies to the prestigious châteaux for which he is a consultant. Two of his primary goals are to retain freshness and obtain the highest quality tannin. This results in well-focused, refined, and intense wines such as the remarkable 2001 and 2005 Domaine de l'A. The 2004 and 2006 Domaine de l'A also appear very promising.
Wine lovers who appreciate the Derenoncourt style should absolutely follow this wine, which exemplifies his winemaking philosophy.
-
WINE PRODUCED BY THE ESTATE
Domaine de l'A
COMPARISON WITH AOC - CASTILLON - CÔTES DE BORDEAUX
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TASTING NOTES
As opposed to the 2005 and 2006 vintages, 2004 Domaine de l'A is more oaky and slightly below its usual high standard, with hints of reduction (probably just an unpleasant temporary stage).
The fruit has been well-extracted and there is considerable volume and length on the palate.
Beautifully fresh aftertaste.
It will take a few more months to be able to evaluate this wine's true fruit and balance.
