Domaine de l'Aurage

Louis and Caroline Mitjavile established the estate in 2007 after purchasing a property previously known as Château Cadet. Located in the Saint-Genès-de-Castillon area, the property serves as the independent project of Louis Mitjavile, who is the son of the winemaker François Mitjavile. The family name is associated with Right Bank production through the elder Mitjavile's work at Château Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint-Émilion and Roc de Cambes in the Côtes de Bourg. Before acquiring this domaine, Louis spent years consulting for various wineries across France and in international regions such as Spain and the United States.

The vineyard holdings consist of approximately 20 hectares on a contiguous block of clay limestone slopes. These soils are geographically and geologically similar to the limestone ridge found in the neighboring Saint-Émilion appellation, though the cooler climate of Castillon often results in a later harvest season. The vineyard is currently planted to roughly 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, with a planting density of more than 6,500 vines per hectare. Louis Mitjavile has expressed an intention to gradually replace the remaining Cabernet Franc with Merlot to focus entirely on the latter variety. Winemaking involves late manual harvesting to ensure maximum grape maturity, followed by fermentation in traditional concrete vats and aging for 18 months in new French oak barrels from the Radoux cooperage.

The estate is best known for its flagship red wine, Domaine de l'Aurage, which has earned a reputation for an opulent and supple character that reflects the family's winemaking style. In addition to the primary label, the producer recently introduced a second wine titled Le Versant to offer a more immediate expression of the property's terroir. Because the estate is located in the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, it is often highlighted by critics as a source of value compared to its neighbors. The wines are noted for their high alcohol content and textural depth, offering a profile that competes with many established crus from the surrounding regions.