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2004 Château D'Aiguilhe |
| Vintage | 2004 |  Label 1 of 5   | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Château D'Aiguilhe (web) | ||
| Variety | Red Bordeaux Blend | ||
| Designation | n/a | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | France | ||
| Region | Bordeaux | ||
| SubRegion | Libournais | ||
| Appellation | Côtes de Castillon |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average 89.3 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 18 notes) | |
| Tasted by pabernatchez on 12/22/2009 & rated 86 points: Deep colour, showing only a very slight sign of evolution. The nose is very nice : crème de mûre, pain grillé. The mouth though is pretty austere and dry... Steel, dried blood and dry tanins come before the fruit. I doubt that this will even out in the near future. A little thin and austere for me (and I usually like that style !!). Definitely a food wine. (307 views) | |
| Tasted by BigJul23 on 12/21/2009 & rated 90 points: Ce vin continue d’évoluer de façon très positive. Il conserve une belle matière relativement dense et structurée, mais perd son arrogance de jeunesse. Son fruit noir s’entremêle désormais de fruits rouges et de cerises des champs. La bouche demeure délicate, fine et appuyée par des tannins élégants, mais encore présents. Je continue d’aimer. 90 (360 views) | |
| Tasted by Rick-again on 10/10/2009 & rated 90 points: this is a very nice solid bordeaux, nice nose, softens with some air, tannins but not so that the fruit does not show through............went well with ostrich and mushrooms (534 views) | |
| Tasted by Opusone99 on 9/13/2009 & rated 91 points: Robe assez foncée ayant de beaux reflets violets, nez racé sur les fruits rouges et les petites baies, légères notes de moka. En bouche, c'est toute en finesse, les tanins apportent une élégante structure et la finale est de longueur acceptable. À boire sur une période de 5-7 ans. Belle réussite. (646 views) | |
| Tasted by BigJul23 on 9/13/2009 & rated 90 points: Troisième bouteille de ce vin hier soir. Un nez discret et simpliste avec des fruits noirs, du chêne, et une touche subtile d’herbes de Provence. Le boisé a débuté son retrait. La bouche possède une très belle structure, moins brouillon que la dernière bouteille dégustée en novembre 2008. Un Bordeaux sur la finesse et l’élégance. Les fruits rouges font leur apparition après 45 minutes d’ouverture et confèrent au vin un côté féminin très agréable. La finale est chocolatée et soutenue. 90. (654 views) | |
| Tasted by KristianT on 7/19/2009 & rated 88 points: A very well structured little Bordeaux. Dark fruit and an almost peppery nose and long full taste. Still a little tannic, so a few more years would definately improve this wine. (854 views) | |
| Tasted by BigJul23 on 4/9/2009 & rated 90 points: (754 views) | |
| Tasted by polimeri on 11/28/2008 & rated 90 points: Drank this bottle with dinner after opening for 6hr and recorking and alongside a 2003 Bravante Merlot Howell Mtn. Black fruit with hints of cedar and minerals came out. The midpalate was interesting with a dryer finish than the Howell Mtn which paired great with the steak. For $25, I will try and pick up another bottle. The bottle was a crowd pleaser as well. (1115 views) | |
| Tasted by Niagara on 7/15/2008 & rated 85 points: The secret to this wine, it seems, is to open it and leave it alone for a day. After opening, the wine had very little character -- the overpowering pencil lead/cedar tones drowned everything else out, so I stuck the cork back in it and left it until dinner the next night. By then, it had softened considerably, with more blackberry fruit and glycerin, and less tannin and lead. So, not bad, but I don't think I'd buy again, at least not this vintage. (1350 views) | |
| Tasted by Anonymous on 5/6/2008 & rated 93 points: Vin très coloré, avec des reflets mauves. Nez un peu simple, boisé et sur les fruits noirs (mûres). On s'attend à un monstre... Mais suprise, en bouche c'est fin, presque féminin. Les tanins sont fins mais apportent structure à ce vin plus sensuel qu'intellectuel. Tout simplement délicieux et prêt à boire et pour les 6-7 prochaines années. (1540 views) | |
| Tasted by Ivin on 2/18/2008 & rated 87 points: Wow, this is tannic! Enamel-stripping and oaky even after 24 hours. I am not sure this will improve as the fruit seems modest. (1735 views) | |
| Tasted by Ericpe on 2/7/2008 & rated 89 points: (1414 views) | |
| Tasted by Ivin on 12/30/2007: Extremely oaky. (1992 views) | |
| Tasted by JimHow on 12/13/2007 & rated 90 points: I bought a bottle of this based on Nic's recent recommendation. As was discussed in Nic's thread, this truly is "real" Bordeaux. A stunning nose, followed by ripe, tannic black fruit on the palate. Inky purple colored, with a strong finish. Two thumbs up, especially at the $19.99 sale price at Zachy's. Buy a case! I think it'll age for a decade or more, too! But it's very enjoyable now as well. Rating: 90 points. (2276 views) | |
| Tasted by DaleW on 12/10/2007: Another modern/internationally styled wine,but maybe because more in my expectations it didn't bother me as much. Crushed dark berries, black plum, some vanilla. Despite the styling some rather classic Bordeaux soil notes come through. Good length, holds up well overnight, ok buy for I think $11/half. B/B+ (2236 views) | |
| Tasted by Jide on 11/18/2007 & rated 91 points: (1614 views) | |
| Tasted by MRichman on 10/23/2007: Not too bad. Much smoother fruit than last bottle. Pleasant. C+ (2172 views) | |
| Tasted by MRichman on 8/4/2007: Stiff & wooden. Acidic, hard profile. Not a lot of fruit going on behind a lot of structure. Could it turn into something? I doubt it. C (2214 views) |
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| Producer website Article on Stephan von Neipperg, owner of the Chateau. "...Château d'Aiguilhe, ... since 1999 has gradually become von Neipperg's favored property. Of course, he'll still pour the Canon-La Gaffelière with delight and exult in the success of La Mondotte, but Aiguilhe is where his heart currently resides...." About red wine The variety Red Bordeaux Blend on CellarTracker implies any blend using any or all of the five traditional Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. As such, this is used worldwide, whether for wines from Bordeaux, Meritages from California and Canada, some Super-Tuscan wines etc. Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia) Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) | Simple Bordeaux primer Libournais (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) Saint Emilion Grat Classified Growth, Classified Growths, Grands Crus Classes, GCC In 1954, while the "Graves" growths had just published their own classification, the wine syndicate of Saint-Emilion, composed by wine growers, brokers and wine traders with the approval of the INAO - Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (A.O.C), decided to work on a classification for the wines of Saint Emilion. Initially, four grades were defined. These were reduced to two - First Great Classified Growth (A and B) and Great Classified Growth - in 1984. As of Medoc's 1855 historical grading, the Saint-Emilion Great Classified Growth classification is not only based on qualitative criteria by tasting the wines on a ten years period previous to the assessment, but also on commercial considerations such as: - sales price levels - national and international commercial distribution - the estate's reputation on the market Properties who don't manage to join the club of about sixty Classified Growths are given the denomination of Great Growth ("Grand Cru"), while the remaining wineries of the A.O.C are simply reported as "Saint-Emilion". It is to be noted that the owners must officially apply to appear in the official classification. Thus for example the famous Chateau Tertre-Roteboeuf, whose quality and reputation would easily justify to be listed among the First Great Classified Growths, does not appear here by the will of its owner, François Mitjaville. The Saint-Emilion Great Growth classification was revised in 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006. The only two guaranteed vintage (A.O.C) who can apply to the classification are the "Saint-Emilion Grand Cru" and "Saint-Emilion" areas. By grading 61 properties, the 2006 revision confirmed many growths from the former classification, but also caused a number of surprises and a few inevitable disappointments. Many observers thought that the impressive progression of Perse's Chateau Pavie since 1998 would be rewarded by an upgrade into the First Great Classified Growths (A) category, but finally such was not the case. Among the estates promoted to the First Great Classified Growths  category are Chateau Troplong-Mondot and Pavie-Macquin, whose efforts made since the Nineties fully justify their new grade. It should be noted that no First Great Classified Growth was relegated to the lower Great Classified Growth class.
Promoted growths from the status of Great Growth ("Grand Cru") to Great Classified Growth ("Grand Cru Classe") are: Chateaux Bellefont-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin-Despagne and Monbousquet.
The demoted growths from the status of Great Classified Growth to Great Growth are: Chateaux Bellevue, Cadet Bon, Faurie de Souchard, Guadet Saint-Julien, La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Belivier), La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Moueix), Lamarzelle, Petite Faurie de Soutard, Tertre Daugay, Villemaurine and Yon-Figeac. If the recent samples of some of the above mentioned properties may justify their current downgrade, there are great chances that estates like Bellevue, Tertre Daugay or Yon-Figeac will be upgraded to their previous rankings by the next revision in 2016 as the progresses noted after 2000, but not entering in the range of vintages (1993 - 2002) appointed for the criteria of selection for the 2006 classification, are noticable.
The two following estates have completely disappeared from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classification: Curé-Bon-la-Madeleine (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Canon) and La Clusière (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Pavie).
Finally, no estate considered as "garagiste" has integrated the classification. Valandraud, Mondotte, Le Dome, Bellevue-Mondotte or Magrez-Fombrauge have, for the least, the potential to be ranked as Great Classified Growths. In sight of the very fine quality reached by the above mentioned estates in recent vintages as well as all the innovative wine making methods used by the "garagistes", it remains to be seen whether the authorities will dare to cross the line in 2016..?
Côtes de Castillon AOC (Official web site) | Article at Basic Juice The average Chateau in the Côtes de Castillon AOC is planted to Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (20%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). The AOC lies about 45km to the east of Bordeaux (the city). It has only been around since 1989. Before that, this region was designated Bordeaux Superieur Côtes de Castillon (and before this the wines were marked as "near Saint Emilion"). The climate is slightly warmer and drier than most of Bordeaux. Go to this Appellation in the summer time and watch a re-enactment of the 100 years war (including 500 actors and 50 horsemen). |
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