Domaine de l’Aurage Cotes de Castillon Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Domaine de l’Aurage Cotes de Castillon with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Domaine de l’Aurage History, Overview

2007 marked the debut vintage for Domaine de l’Aurage. Domaine de l’Aurage is the third Bordeaux vineyard owned by the Mitjavile family. The other chateaux are: Tertre Roteboeuf in St. Emilion and Roc des Cambes in the Cotes de Bourg appellation.

Today, the vineyards are owned and managed by the capable, LouisMitjavile and his sister, Caroline Mitjavile. Domaine de l’Aurage was previously bottled under the name Chateau Cadet before it was purchased by the Mitjavile family, who changed the name to Domaine de l’Aurage.

Domaine de l’Aurage Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 20 hectare, vineyard of Domaine de l’Aurage is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. On average the vines are 25 years of age. The terroir is the perfect combination of good limestone and clay terroir soils just across the border from Saint Emilion.

However, it is the goal of Louis Mitjavile to slowly but surely continue removing the Cabernet Franc vines and replacing those vines with Merlot in their Right Bank Bordeaux vineyards. It is also the plan for Domaine de l’Aurage to have their entire vineyard eventually planted to 100% Merlot vines.

The wine is vinified in traditional concrete vats and is on average aged in 80% new French oak barrels. However, that is not always the case. For example, in 2010, the wine was aged in 100%, new, French oak barrels. On average the production is close to 7,500 cases of wine per vintage.

The best vintages of Domaine de l’Aurage are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010 and 2009.

When to Drink Domaine de l’Aurage, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Domaine de l’Aurage is much better with at least 2-3 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for 1 hour or so.

This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Domaine de l’Aurage offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-10 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Domaine de l’Aurage with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Domaine de l’Aurage is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Domaine de l’Aurage is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Domaine de l’Aurage is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Fortunately for savvy, wine-loving consumers, the wine of Domaine de l’Aurage remains available at a reasonable selling price. Domaine de l’Aurage is a young Bordeaux wine property from the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation to watch.

www.aurage.com

Domaine de L'Aurage Wine Tasting Notes

12 Vintages 42,190 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
93
Licorice, black fruit, espresso, and chocolate on the nose. The wine is loaded with layers of lusciously-textured, black plums, chocolate, licorice and supple, creamy tannins. The wine is produced from 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 15% pH 3.8. Drink from 2025-2038. 92-94 Pts.

Licorice, black fruit, espresso, and chocolate on the nose. The wine is loaded with layers of lusciously-textured, black plums, chocolate, licorice and supple, creamy tannins. The wine is produced from 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 15% pH 3.8. Drink from 2025-2038. 92-94 Pts.

2,446 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Dark in color, the wine is all about its dark cocoa, black cherry, oak and licorice perfume. From there you find a soft, fresh, elegant, silky display of ripe, blackberry and plum that lingers in the soft textured finish. You can drink it now or age it for a few years. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc with no touch of heat in the 14.5% ABV finish. 91-93 Pts

Dark in color, the wine is all about its dark cocoa, black cherry, oak and licorice perfume. From there you find a soft, fresh, elegant, silky display of ripe, blackberry and plum that lingers in the soft textured finish. You can drink it now or age it for a few years. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc with no touch of heat in the 14.5% ABV finish. 91-93 Pts

2,624 Views   Tasted
2019
91
Earthy, dark red fruits with a touch of herbs, olives and forest leaf on the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, fruity and filled with licorice, black cherries and kirsch, give this a few years in the cellar before popping a cork. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 90-92 Pts

Earthy, dark red fruits with a touch of herbs, olives and forest leaf on the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, fruity and filled with licorice, black cherries and kirsch, give this a few years in the cellar before popping a cork. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 90-92 Pts

3,966 Views   Tasted
2018
92
Five spice is the first thing you notice before digging into the licorice, sweet plums, coffee bean and cocoa on the nose and palate. Elegant, silky and fresh, the finish meshes ripe berries with just a hint of espresso. You can drink this now, or age it a few years. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Five spice is the first thing you notice before digging into the licorice, sweet plums, coffee bean and cocoa on the nose and palate. Elegant, silky and fresh, the finish meshes ripe berries with just a hint of espresso. You can drink this now, or age it a few years. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

2,227 Views   Tasted
Earthy black cherries, kirsch, wild herbs and spice come through easily in the nose and mouth. All of this is wrapped up in a fresh, round, silky bow of red, juicy fruits, licorice and earth in the finish. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 Pts

Earthy black cherries, kirsch, wild herbs and spice come through easily in the nose and mouth. All of this is wrapped up in a fresh, round, silky bow of red, juicy fruits, licorice and earth in the finish. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 91-93 Pts

2,937 Views   Tasted
2017
90
Vanilla, wild strawberry, earth and thyme reverberate here while the endnote displays soft texture, ripe black raspberries and licorice. You will be able to enjoy this on release. Due to the frost, yields were only ten hectoliters per hectare.

Vanilla, wild strawberry, earth and thyme reverberate here while the endnote displays soft texture, ripe black raspberries and licorice. You will be able to enjoy this on release. Due to the frost, yields were only ten hectoliters per hectare.

1,975 Views   Tasted
2015
91
From a blend of 95% Merlot and 5%Cabernet Franc, the wine shows rich, lusty textures, fresh, sweet black fruits and a licorice coated, black cherry finish with supple tannins.

From a blend of 95% Merlot and 5%Cabernet Franc, the wine shows rich, lusty textures, fresh, sweet black fruits and a licorice coated, black cherry finish with supple tannins.

2,857 Views   Tasted
2014
90
Medium bodied, with good freshness to the fruit, softness to the textures and ample sweetness, the wine is forward, juicy and almost crisp, with more red than black fruit and licorice in the finish.

Medium bodied, with good freshness to the fruit, softness to the textures and ample sweetness, the wine is forward, juicy and almost crisp, with more red than black fruit and licorice in the finish.

2,938 Views   Tasted
2012
89
Fresh licorice and vanilla-coated berries with powerful tannins, good density and a long wild berry finish. 88-90 Pts

Fresh licorice and vanilla-coated berries with powerful tannins, good density and a long wild berry finish. 88-90 Pts

3,058 Views   Tasted
2011
87
With fennel and cherry notes in the nose, this medium bodied, wine is a light, forward and ends with a fresh, red plum finish.

With fennel and cherry notes in the nose, this medium bodied, wine is a light, forward and ends with a fresh, red plum finish.

2,322 Views   Tasted
From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. However the goal is to slowly replace the remaining Cabernet Franc with Merlot, so that at some point in the future, the wine is 100% Merlot. The wine reached 13.5% ABV and will be aged in 100% new oak. With jammy kirsch, herb, coffee bean and earthy notes, this medium-bodied wine ends with soft, almost overripe cherry. 88-89 Pts

From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. However the goal is to slowly replace the remaining Cabernet Franc with Merlot, so that at some point in the future, the wine is 100% Merlot. The wine reached 13.5% ABV and will be aged in 100% new oak. With jammy kirsch, herb, coffee bean and earthy notes, this medium-bodied wine ends with soft, almost overripe cherry. 88-89 Pts

2,166 Views   Tasted
2010
89
Sweet, fresh cherries, black raspberries, licorice, vanilla bean and spice provides good freshness, sweet berries and ample grip in the finish.

Sweet, fresh cherries, black raspberries, licorice, vanilla bean and spice provides good freshness, sweet berries and ample grip in the finish.

3,669 Views   Tasted
l’Aurage From 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 80% new oak. Licorice and cherry griotte, medium body and a fresh, dark cherry finish. 88-90 Pts

l’Aurage From 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 80% new oak. Licorice and cherry griotte, medium body and a fresh, dark cherry finish. 88-90 Pts

3,158 Views   Tasted
2009
90
Blueberry, coffee, licorice, plum and black cherry aromas open to a round, soft textured, sweet, black cherry filled wine that is already showing great.

Blueberry, coffee, licorice, plum and black cherry aromas open to a round, soft textured, sweet, black cherry filled wine that is already showing great.

2,377 Views   Tasted
2008
90
08 Domaine de L’Aurage (Cotes de Castillon), from the owners of Tertre Rotebeouf, shows a lot of cassis, kirsch, fennel, and coffee notes. The sophomore vintage for this juicy, ripe, up front wine that ends with a soft, round, red plum finish. 88-91 Pts

08 Domaine de L’Aurage (Cotes de Castillon), from the owners of Tertre Rotebeouf, shows a lot of cassis, kirsch, fennel, and coffee notes. The sophomore vintage for this juicy, ripe, up front wine that ends with a soft, round, red plum finish. 88-91 Pts

3,470 Views   Tasted