Château de Pitray, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, 2012

Castillon is a great place to look for affordable right bank Bordeaux. Right in the heart of the appellation is the picturesque Château de Pitray, which owns 36 hectares of vines planted on clay-limestone soils. The blend of the wine reflects the plantings – mostly Merlot, with around a quarter Cabernet Franc. This is perfect for large gatherings due to its value pricetag, and has attractive, smooth cassis aromas with some crunchy pepper notes. It shows good right bank typicity, and a surprising amount of class for the price.