Château de Pitray 2018
A refined and quietly powerful Castillon red with ripe plum, dark berry fruit, and polished Right Bank structure. Smooth, serious, and beautifully composed.
From one of the oldest estates on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, Château de Pitray 2018 delivers exceptional value and impressive depth. This bold, Merlot-driven blend opens with aromas of ripe plum, black cherry, and cassis, layered with notes of cedar, mocha, and violet. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and richly textured, with polished tannins and a long, savory finish. Cabernet Franc brings structure and freshness, while a touch of Malbec adds spice and color.
Elegant yet powerful, this is a classic Castillon red - a hidden gem that rivals its more famous neighbours in Saint-Émilion. Perfect with roast meats, hearty stews, and aged cheeses.
France
Bordeaux
Blend
750ml
14%
2018Château de Pitray 2018 comes from Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, on the eastern continuation of the limestone and clay slopes that run out from Saint-Émilion. That geological connection is important: the same broad family of soils that gives nearby Right Bank Bordeaux its shape and freshness also helps Castillon produce wines with real depth, fine tannic definition, and a distinctly mineral feel beneath the fruit.
The estate is classically Right Bank in composition, led by Merlot with Cabernet Franc providing aromatic lift and extra backbone. In 2018, the warm, successful growing season brought full ripeness and generous fruit concentration, while the estate’s limestone influence helped retain enough freshness to avoid heaviness. The result is a wine that shows the richness of the vintage but still feels grounded and controlled.
Château de Pitray has long been regarded as one of the stronger names in Castillon, and this vintage shows why. It delivers the charm and accessibility people expect from Merlot-led Bordeaux, but with more structure and poise than simple, fruit-forward examples.
A dry, medium- to full-bodied Bordeaux that sits firmly in the classic Right Bank camp. It has enough ripeness to feel generous, but it is not plush or overblown; the wine is shaped by its limestone backbone, which gives the palate a more serious, composed feel than many inexpensive Bordeaux.
The tannins are present and supportive rather than aggressive, so it drinks well now with air, yet still has enough structure to reward a few more years in bottle.
In simple terms: this is the sort of Bordeaux for someone who wants richness and smoothness, but still wants the wine to feel proper, balanced, and distinctly place-driven.
- Appearance: Deep ruby with youthful garnet shading.
- Nose: Plum, black cherry, blackberry, cedar, cocoa, and a hint of graphite.
- Palate: Ripe dark fruit layered with subtle spice and mineral depth.
- Texture: Medium- to full-bodied with fine, integrated tannins.
- Finish: Long, dry, and composed with savoury persistence.
- Overall Impression: A well-made Castillon that combines the generosity of the 2018 vintage with classic Right Bank structure and freshness.
- Roast Lamb – The wine’s ripe fruit and measured structure work beautifully with herb-crusted lamb.
- Beef Daube or Slow-Braised Beef – The depth of the wine suits long-cooked, savoury dishes.
- Mushroom Tart or Wild Mushroom Risotto – Earthy flavours bring out the wine’s mineral and cedar nuances.
- Aged Comté or Mature Cheddar – Hard cheeses soften the tannins and highlight the wine’s fruit core.
- Duck Breast – The wine’s balance of richness and freshness suits both the meat and any fruit-based garnish.
- Serve at 16–18°C to bring out both the fruit depth and the wine’s structural detail.
- Decant for 30–60 minutes before serving to soften the edges and allow the aromatics to open fully.
- Use a large Bordeaux-style red wine glass for the best balance of fruit, lift, and texture.
- Drinking well now, but it will continue to develop nicely over the next 5–8 years if stored in cool, stable conditions.
5 The Market Place
Derrylin
Enniskillen BT92 9AN
United Kingdom
