CHÂTEAU D'AIGUILHE
2024 Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
90 Merlot, 10 Cabernet Franc: 20% new oak: 13% alc: 38 hl/ha: Harvested between 24 September and 8 October There is a further refinement of the d’Aiguilhe model in the 2024 vintage, not least because the more slender chassis was imposed on this estate due to the difficulties in the weather conditions. Fortunately, this continued story of refinement was on display in this vintage, borne of a discreet 20% new oak and a piercingly fresh Cabernet component. This is a thoroughly civilised wine, characterised by a long tail of tannin that I believe will, for the most part, be absorbed during the élévage. This is another successful d’Aiguilhe, and it continues a fascinating story for this historic estate. Interestingly, I mainly come across and drink this wine in restaurants, and I recommend you choose it when you see it because it never disappoints. 17+/20 Rating: 17.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)
In Bond
75cl bottles (case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2024 d'Aiguilhe offers an attractive mix of red-toned fruit, cinnamon, blood orange, new leather and rose petal. Medium in body, with vibrant freshness, d'Aiguilhe is a delight in 2024. All the elements are so nicely integrated. Drinking range: 2026 - 2034 Rating: 90-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)
90 CS 10 M 13% Quite leafy sappy fresh fruit aromas with some thyme and red berries. Juicy fruit on the palate with structured tannins and fresh acidity. A lean but fresh finish which will be very good in the short-to-mid term. Rating: 90 L&S (Apr 2025)
In the limestone soils of Castillon, the key was to avoid austerity, and here the focus is very much on cherry bud, savoury cherry pit, violet floral notes, chalk and pumice stone, mouthwatering and savoury. Harvest 24 September to 10 October. 38 hl/ha. 20% new oak for ageing. 20hl casks, and probably slightly longer ageing than usual. Drinking range: 2026 - 2036 Rating: 89 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)
The 2024 Château d'Aiguilhe was picked from September 24 to October 8 and matured in 20% new oak barrels. Soft red berry fruit, orange pith and light mocha scents form the nose that just needs a little more delineation. The palate is rounded on the entry, very soft and fleshy in texture and a little confit-like on the finish. It just lacks grip and substance on the finish. Drinking range: 2027 - 2038 Rating: 85-87 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)
A savory and juicy wine, showing berries, chocolate and some meat. Medium-bodied with creamy texture. A blend of 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)
Château d'Aiguilhe
Chateau d’Aiguilhe, owned by Stephan Neipperg is situated in a unique location. The Bordeaux wine property is bordered on one side by a plateau. The other side is bordered by a small valley. This overlooks “l’aiguille”, which is a French term meaning “needle.” This is how the chateau found its name. The property has a long and interesting history as a Bordeaux wine property. At one time, there was supposed to have been a Roman villa on this site. Much later, the château was probably used as a commandery for the Knights Templar. The first written records date back to the late 12th century. The château was built in the 13th century. d’Aiguilhe was obtained by the d’Albret family before it was sold to the Leberthon family. The Leberthon family connection was important as numerous familiy members were officials in the Bordeaux parliament. Eventually the Leberthons sold Château d’Aiguilhe on the eve of the French Revolution to Etienne Martineau. He expanded it into a huge Bordeaux wine estate with four hundred hectares of vines in a single block. His descendents remained owners of the château until 1920. Today, the Right Bank property is owned and managed by Stephan von Neipperg, who owns several other Bordeaux wine properties in St. Emilion.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. Many properties specify a standard case format, and may make additional charges for six-bottle cases, for example. We offer wood cases of six bottles as standard where these are available without extra charge, but we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. If you want six-bottle cases where a 12 bottle case is offered, please check for the extra case charge. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£9.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2027. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.