Purchased by Gerard Perse (of Chateau Pavie) and Dr. Alain Raynaud (of Quinault l’Enclos), this impressive Cotes de Castillon is fashioned from 70% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is crop-thinned as well as de-leafed, and, as one might expect, the winemaking and upbringing are impeccable. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2001 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a sumptuous perfume of black fruits intermixed with hints of lead pencil shavings, new oak, and earth. Rich, stylish, and medium-bodied, it is best drunk over the next 5-8 years.