Chateau Ampelia AOC Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux, 2016

Nice tertiary aromas with forest floor, coffee and dates. It is medium-bodied with a more linear Cabernet shape, despite having 80% Merlot in the blend. Château Ampélia is owned by François Despagne. The Despagne family have been making wines in Saint-Émilion for seven generations, but this was their first venture outside of the Appellation. Having scanned the Côtes de Castillon region, Francois was drawn to the five-hectare plot seeing the potential offered by its 110-metres altitude. Named after the Greek word for vine (“ampelos”), while grapes were picked and sorted, with each plot vinified separately. It was matured in barrel with one-third new and two-thirds being one and two-year-old barrels.