Deep ruby colour, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine old wood spice, ripe cherries, a touch of nougat, attractive bouquet. Juicy, medium complexity, red berryish texture, supporting, ripe tannins, salty finish, an elegant food wine.\n \n Producer Information\n \n Groupe Castel is a mutinational beverage company, producing wine, beer and soft drinks. It has its headquarters in Bordeaux, and owns a range of wine estates, the most famous of which is Château Beychevelle. In its wine division, Castel has eight winemaking centers, 14 bottling plants and 26 international branches. In France Castel owns and manages 1400 hectares (3460 acres) of vineyard land in Bordeaux, Provence, the Loire and the Languedoc. Another 1600ha (3954 acres) of vineyards are farmed in Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia. Beers and soft drinks are produced throughout the rest of Africa. The company has 21 châteaux in France, 17 of which are located in Bordeaux, including Château Beaumont, Château Magnol, Château Mirefleurs, Château Latour-Camblanes and Château Tour Prignac, as well as Beychevelle. In 2011 the group acquired the negociant house Patriarche in Burgundy; meaning it now owns nine subsidiary Maisons de Vin. Groupe Castel's various estates have an established presence in more than 130 countries, and produce around 640 million bottles of wine a year. Castel also owns the specialist wine store, Nicolas, which has hundreds of stores in France and more in Belgium, the UK, Morocco and Russia.