2018 Chateau Alcée Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux
Since Nicholas Thienpont of Chateau Pavie-Macquin started working with Alcee in 2011, the quality and focus of the estate has drastically improved. Lisa Perrotti-Brown specifically called out Alcee as a wine to check out from 2018 and awarded it 93+ points. “The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Alcee is strutting quite a lot of oak along with loads of beautiful, underlying black cherry compote, warm blueberries and red plum preserves notes plus wafts of dark chocolate and menthol. Full-bodied with a rock-solid line of firm, ripe, grainy tannins, it has generous blue and black fruit layers and a lively line, finishing with a minty kick” - WA This is an up and comer to keep your eye on. Better tuck a few in the cellar where you know they’ll be safe!
Wine Spectator
Dark boysenberry and currant fruit is melded nicely with anise and apple wood accents. Shows grip and solid stuffing.
DC93Decanter
You are getting a lot of complexity for a wine that usually retails for under 20 Euros. There are oak notes but they are well handled, joined by seductive aromatics with floral touches, and dense plum and black cherry flavours. This was bought by Nicolas Thienpont in 201 as a 2ha estate that has now been expanded to 6ha. The former owners took the wine produced to the local cooperative. Drinking Window 2022 - 2032 Barrel Sample: 93
JD92Jeb Dunnuck
Almost all Merlot (there's 4% Cabernet Franc), the 2018 Château Alcée comes from the team of Nicolas Thienpont and the cooler, limestone soils of the Côtes de Castillon region. It's a rock star bottle of wine that I'm sure will be a terrific value. Lots of black cherries, darker currants, damp earth, leafy herbs, and some obvious minerality emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, ripe, yet focused texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's hands down the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.
JS91James Suckling
Black cherries, blueberries, dried leaves, praline and some tar on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, broad tannins. Structured and concentrated. 96% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Better from 2023.
WA91Wine Advocate
Composed of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Alcee charges out of the gate with bold notions of stewed black cherries, blackberry preserves and fruitcake, plus hints of cinnamon toast, licorice and tobacco leaf with a waft of camphor. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of ripe black fruit flavors with a velvety texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy.
VN90Vinous
The 2018 Alcée, the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux from Nicolas Thienpont, has a rather thick, dense bouquet of opulent blackberry and cassis fruit. It is certainly the most sumptuous of Thienpont’s wines this vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin's that frame layers of tar- and tobacco-infused black fruit. Dichotomous to the nose, the finish comes across as structured and a little more austere in style. I appreciate the focus and spiciness of this Alcée, which deserves 2–3 years in bottle. Very fine, if a bit like a jigsaw puzzle: you have to put it together in your mind!