On Sale: $23.94 (was: $29.94)*
The Cotes de Castillon may sit right next to Saint Emilion, but when it comes to price, they are a world apart. While the gap in quality used to be equally wide, that’s just not true anymore and Joanin Becot has been at the forefront. This offshoot of grand cru Beau-Séjour Bécot tastes “like a topflight Saint-Emilion” (Dunnuck) with it’s classic blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and honestly if it had Saint Emilion on the label it could have a $40+ price tag and no one would blink. It comes down to the commitment of the Beau-Séjour Bécot team, who are very much angling to make more than just another value Bordeaux. They’ve clearly succeeded with this “brilliant Right Bank wine” (Dunnuck), and at only $23.94 the irresistibly charming 2018 is one to grab by the case and see for yourself!
Juliette Becot has led the family business for over a decade now, and she has turned Joanin Becot into “one of the top performing Côte de Castillon crus.” (Wine Advocate). Joanin Becot’s little slice of Cotes de Castillon shares a very similar terroir to the best parts of Saint Emilion, and with the help of oenologist Thomas Duclos (Ch. Canon), this is now regularly reaching qualitative heights not normally associated with the so-called ‘satellite’ AOCs. 2018 is proving to be a “undeniably great vintage” (Dunnuck), notable for charming, fruit forward Bordeaux and this Joanin Becot is one to grab and enjoy over the next decade.
93 points, Jeb Dunnuck: "Lots of black cherry and redcurrant fruit as well as leafy herbs, dried flowers, chalky minerality, and camphor emerge on the nose. This carries to a medium-bodied, seamless 2018 with terrific overall balance, ripe yet present tannins, and outstanding length on the finish. Tasting like a topflight Saint-Emilion, it will benefit from a year or so in the cellar and impress for at least a decade. Readers looking for a brilliant Right Bank wine to put in the cellar should jump on this beauty."
92 points, Decanter: "Fruit-filled and so easy to like. There are pretty strong tannins here, a little more evident than they were en primeur, with the austerity of limestone coming through, but what a great value wine with a ton of personality. (Drink between 2022-2034)"
*Offer publication date March 16, 2022. Pricing and availability subject to change.