TERROIR PROFILE
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux
Clay-limestone slopes in Saint-Émilion's shadow
The same limestone slopes as Saint-Émilion at a quarter of the price: Castillon and Francs are Bordeaux's best-kept Merlot secret.
TERROIR PROFILE · Bordeaux
Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Clay-limestone slopes in Saint-Émilion's shadow
The same limestone slopes as Saint-Émilion at a quarter of the price: Castillon and Francs are Bordeaux's best-kept Merlot secret.
SOILS
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
CLIMATE · Maritime
Mild maritime like Saint-Émilion but a little further from the Atlantic — slightly more continental, cooler nights on the plateaus.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
South-facing limestone slopes and plateaus above the Dordogne between Castillon-la-Bataille and Francs — geologically the continuation of the Saint-Émilion côtes.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Similar terroirs worldwide
Computed from fingerprint similarity
Listrac-Médoc & Moulis-en-Médoc
Bordeaux
96% similar
- Minerality (slightly): Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux is more mineral → salty-stony notes, more tension (7 vs. 6).
Blaye & Bourg
Bordeaux
94% similar
- Minerality (slightly): Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux is more mineral → salty-stony notes, more tension (7 vs. 6).
- Freshness (slightly): Castillon & Francs Côtes de Bordeaux has less freshness → gentler acidity, earlier drinking (6 vs. 7).
Wineries on this terroir
See all 19 →This terroir's soils in the glossary