2016 Château Castegens - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux (11/10/2019)
– popped and poured –
– tasted a couple small pours non-blind on Day 1; re-visited on Day 4 –
– 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc –
– Diam 3 closure –
Terribly oaky — unpleasantly so on Day 1, but it did calm down to a barely-acceptable level by Day 4. Very tannic. Medium bodied.
Dark-fruited — the Cab. Franc component comes through without showing any green/bell pepper notes. Ashley, only knowing this to be a Bdx. with two grape varieties, correctly called this is being a Merlot-dominant Merlot & Cab. Franc blend. At $11, this is an acceptable glugging wine, and I’d go so far as to say “Very Good” for those who have high oak tolerance. I imagine this would survive just fine in the cellar for 10 years, and would improve over that term to the extent the oak recedes. Alcohol wasn’t noticeable (labelled at 14%). Gut impression score: 83 - 84.