Château La Brande - Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

This intense red, with lovely fruity notes, offers good body, depth, and complexity. It is a lovely, fruit-forward wine—very fresh, well-crafted, and with good length—that is a pleasure to enjoy with meat in sauce or roast meat. 2023–2028

About the estate:

The vineyards, founded in 1951 by Jean Petit, comprise 37 hectares of contiguous Saint-Émilion Grand Cru vineyards on a terroir rich in asterias limestone (Mangot, an ancient cru first mentioned in 1510), and 16 hectares in Castillon (La Brande), managed since 1989 by Jean-Guy and Anne-Marie Todeschini, joined in 2008 by their sons Karl and Yann. The vineyard has been certified organic since the 2020 vintage and is currently in the process of converting to biodynamics.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

With notes of cherry, blackberry, and licorice, the 2019 La Brande is medium-bodied to full-bodied, with lively acidity, fine tannins, abundant cherry aromas, and a long, fresh, and penetrating finish. This wine is already drinking very well. 2025–2030

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Among the best Right Bank wines under €25: Reservedat first, this 2019 really comes into its own after a few minutes in the glass. A beautiful wine—full-bodied, lively, and finished with a refined, mouth-watering tannic finish. Perfect for a winter dinner party.

About the estate:

This is the historic estate of the Todeschini family, who also own Château Mangot, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé located just a few kilometers away. The brotherly duo of Karl and Yann are helping to drive the current momentum for the Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, a charming vineyard of intertwined hills and plateaus, characterized by varied exposures and dotted with ponds and groves. The 16 hectares cultivated using biodynamic methods produce concentrated wines, structured by firm tannins but above all by the mouth-watering quality so characteristic of the region’s clay-limestone soils. Bravo, Castillon! Bravo, Todeschini!

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of red berries, dried herbs, forest floor, and a spice rack. Hints of olives as well. Medium-bodied with lively tannins. Round and creamy with a savory finish. Ready to drink now or worth cellaring.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

This wine displays a certain boldness, opening with explosive, straightforward, and crisp fruit. The palate is very savory, with a lovely texture of tannins marked by a pleasant rusticity. It’s a wine that stands on its own two feet, clearly expressing its origins—juicy, full-bodied, and refreshing, with a beautiful bitter finish.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

A fresh, fruity bouquet with good intensity, featuring notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, followed by chalky undertones. A delicious, juicy attack. A pleasant freshness on the palate makes the wine inviting and crisp. It is elegant, balanced, and can be enjoyed while still young. A savory, refreshing wine. 2023–2033

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and elegant, offering a lovely freshness, a nice texture, and a certain depth. It features notes of vibrant wild blackcurrant, juicy blackberry, and a hint of violet, combined with touches of bright red berries, hints of crushed Bigarreau cherry and licorice, as well as a subtle hint of coffee and a delicate, almost mandarin-like zest. The palate is fruity, balanced, and elegant, offering a lovely tart structure, smoothness, savory notes, and good definition. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy, tart blackcurrant, vibrant raspberry, and a hint of vibrant blueberry, combined with touches of small black berries, blueberries, fresh violet, as well as a subtle hint of licorice, zan, spices, and a very subtle hint of iris, pepper, and toasted notes. The tannins are precise and well-integrated. Good length. A well-structured wine that offers a lovely abundance of fruit!