2021 Les Prairies Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Château de Pitray

• Style: Silky, blackcurrant-led Bordeaux blend
• Taste: Ripe blackcurrant, black tea, velvety fruit, silk-fine tannins
• Food: Braised beef, roasted chicken, aged cheese
• Occasion: Weeknight or Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, now through mid-2020s

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Opens with ripe blackcurrant and a whisper of black tea, then delivers juicy, velvety fruit wrapped in silk-fine tannins rather than grip. At 13.5% alcohol, this three-quarters Merlot-led blend with Cabernet Franc and a trace of Malbec sits at that golden midpoint where you can drink it with everyday confidence yet find real depth waiting inside. The clay-limestone soils give supple generosity without the weight some Bordeaux impose.

The Winery — Château de Pitray

Family-owned for over 600 years and the oldest such property in Bordeaux, this historic estate sits just 8km east of Saint-Émilion on the same clay-limestone plateau, though classified as Côtes de Castillon. Jean, the 25th generation to lead the Château, brought in consultant winemaker Nina Mitjavile in 2020 to unlock untapped potential in the vineyard. Her influence defines the 2021: drastically lower yields, minimal new oak during ageing (just 33% of Les Prairies sees one-year-old barrels), and a philosophy that favours fruit character over extraction. The vintage, notoriously difficult across Bordeaux, shows what happens when that skill meets serious vineyard discipline—sustainable farming and considered winemaking, not wishful thinking.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Drink this with braised beef, roasted chicken, hard aged cheese, cured meats, game, or stews and braises. It will reward you now and continue to sing through the mid-2020s. If you're exploring France's fine wine regions, this offers a masterclass in how a historic property can evolve without losing its soul. Whether you're reaching for genuine drinking pleasure on a weeknight or hosting Sunday lunch, Les Prairies delivers on the glass what the nose promises—lively fruit and a polished, lingering finish.