Château d'Aiguilhe

Château d’Aiguilhe is located in the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation on the right bank of the Dordogne river. The estate traces its origins back to the 13th century, when it served as a fortified farm and a strategic military site during the Hundred Years War. Over several centuries, the property belonged to families such as the Albret family and the Le Berthon family, who were members of the Bordeaux Parliament in the 18th century. In late 1998, the estate was acquired by Count Stephan von Neipperg, whose family has been involved in viticulture for eight centuries. Under his ownership, the property underwent significant renovation and was renamed from its previous title, Château La Fleur d’Aiguilhe.

The vineyard occupies a limestone plateau at an elevation of approximately 110 meters, covering about 140 hectares with 92 hectares currently dedicated to vines. The terroir consists of a thin layer of clay and silt over a limestone bedrock, providing natural drainage and balanced water stress for the vines. Merlot is the dominant variety at 80 percent of the plantings, complemented by 20 percent Cabernet Franc. Winemaking takes place in a circular cellar designed to facilitate gravity fed processes. Fermentation occurs in temperature controlled wooden and concrete vats for 25 to 30 days. The wines then undergo malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barrels, often using a significant proportion of new wood depending on the vintage requirements.

The estate is best known for its primary red wine, Château d’Aiguilhe, which is regarded as a benchmark for quality in the Castillon region. It is frequently compared to Saint Emilion Grand Cru wines due to the similarities in soil composition and the management techniques of the von Neipperg team. The property also produces a second label called Seigneurs d’Aiguilhe and a dry white wine named Le Blanc d’Aiguilhe. The white wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, sourced from a specific 13 hectare plot and aged on its lees in barrels to enhance texture. The estate maintains a reputation for consistency and serves as a primary property for the von Neipperg family in the satellite appellations of Bordeaux.