Cotes De Castillon is produced in the Bordeaux region of France with Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. This Grand Vin De Bordeaux is aged in French oak for one year, is unfiltered and has a robust, yet soft aroma and taste with great fruit and balance. The Chateau Haut Lucas Cotes De Castillon red blend has a lovely nose of raspberry and white chocolate. With 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it is easy drinking with a little pepper. It is produced by notable French wine maker Vignobles Faytout in the Libournais sub-region. A favorite of better restaurants in Paris, you can now enjoy this great Cotes de Castillon red Bordeaux blend at the lowest price that it has ever been offered. Goes perfect with red meats and game. Drink now through 2014.

Jean Albert Faytout took over his father's vineyard in 1983. The vineyard of Castillon is near St. Emilion, on the same hills and similar soils. It has a Bordeaux Superieur designation. The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc (Also called Bouchet in St. Emilion). The Chateau is managed with biological methods and wines are considered organic. With a fully manual harvesting method, Faytout comes from a long tradition of great winemakers. He has relatives in just about every winery in the Libournois sub-region of Bordeaux. His techniques are traditional for wine makers in this historic region, and includes cement vats, long maceration and prime examples of what Castillon can produce.

RATINGS: Chateau Haut Lucas Côtes de Castillon, 2003 - at $16, it's a freaking steal - and I rarely want to spend more than $12. This wine is soft but structured, med-light bodied, not too dry, black-fruity, and just simply impossible to argue with. It's also 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc...Haut Lucas has a very mature and artful presence - (French) BEN ET NATE

3 Glasses - SNOOTH
"This 2005 is amazing, delicate but robust."

RECOMMENDED - BOSTONist

Consitant high 80's - CELLARTRACKER